HALLIDAY: League’s top brass gave no help to our Covid hit teams... they have damaged the credibility of game
ANDY HALLIDAY believes SPFL chiefs have damaged Scottish football’s credibility by forcing Covid-hit clubs to carry on.
The Hearts midfielder reckons the reputation of the game is being tarnished by decisions to rebuff requests from St Mirren and Dundee for games to be postponed despite squads being decimated by the virus.
A host of Under-18 players were required by the Buddies to fulfil their fixture against Celtic six days ago.
And Dens Park assistant boss Dave Mackay, who retired more than five years ago, sat on the bench alongside two keepers as his side went down 2-1 at Pittodrie on Boxing Day.
Halliday insists it only increased the cringe factor and flies in the face of common sense.
The 30-year-old said: “What surprises me is that teams are obviously looking for a bit of help from the governing bodies, St Mirren and then Dundee. My understanding is if they ask for the games to be postponed with the number of players they have available, I thought the league was going to help them in that.
“I’m not being funny, I lived in England for six years and used to have arguments week in, week out over the way people look at our game.
“Dundee have a 40-year-old assistant manager who has been retired for almost six years and needs to go on the bench. It’s not ideal for anyone and it’s not Dundee’s fault.
“That’s something we need to look at and, if clubs need help, they get help. But as players we want to play games.”
Halliday isn’t hopeful the move to bring forward the winter shutdown will allow fans to fill stadiums when play resumes next month, insisting supporter-free atmospheres is the worst-case scenario.
He said: “If it means we’re postponing these two games and then in three weeks’ time the crowds are full again, I’m all for it.
“Whether that happens we’ll soon see. But even today, listen I can’t stress (enough) that no footballer wants to play in that.
“I’m not hopeful. There is going to be a tailback of fixtures already but we’ve been pretty fortunate. “I do think it’s up to the players and every club to be as diligent as they can, even Joe Public out there – you still have to respect the rules and restrictions, and try to isolate.
“Hopefully we’ll start to see cases quieten down over the next few weeks.”
Hearts maintained their grip on third spot with Sunday’s 2-1 win over Ross County and Halliday believes his side showed another side to their character by winning it the hard way.
He said: “It’s important for any side and we see it with the best in the world. It’s the sign of a good side that you can win when you’re not playing at your best. It was ugly, that’s for sure.
“Livingston away was one of the first times where we’ve shown as a team that we can win ugly.
“And it was a bit more of the same against County. Now it’s all about coming back after the winter break and really pushing on to cement where we are in the league.”
It’s up to the players and every club to be as diligent as they can ANDY HALLIDAY ON THE RISKS OF AN OUTBREAK