Scottish Daily Mail

Budge hits out at SPFL scheduling

- JOHN GREECHAN Chief Sports Writer

HEARTS will have to wait until next week to finalise their early Premiershi­p schedule — after the SPFL fixtures computer couldn’t cope with their request for four away games to start the season.

Owner Ann Budge also took a swipe at league authoritie­s for scheduling the first two Edinburgh derbies of the season for midweek kick-offs, and suggested she might try moving one back to a prime weekend slot.

The Tynecastle club had previously informed the SPFL they wouldn’t be able to host a match until September 9 because of constructi­on work on the new £12million main stand.

Yet Hearts were only told on Thursday, less than 24 hours before yesterday’s publicatio­n of fixtures, that they would be handed home games against Kilmarnock on August 12 and Motherwell on August 26 — and forced to negotiate a switch with their opponents.

A club statement claimed that ‘the computer model used by the SPFL could not accommodat­e’ their request, and said of the scheduled home fixtures: ‘There is absolute clarity and agreement that this will not be possible and these games will not be played at Tynecastle.

‘We have been assured by the SPFL that this is not an issue and our fellow Premiershi­p clubs have all been very co-operative and sympatheti­c to our position.

‘We are therefore urgently exploring the different options available to us with regards to rearrangin­g these two fixtures and an announceme­nt will be made shortly.’

Budge, meanwhile, spoke out after the first two top-flight Edinburgh derbies since 2014 were pencilled in for October 25 and December 27 — both Wednesday nights.

She said: ‘I am slightly disappoint­ed that the first two derbies are evening games and I think everyone will be disappoint­ed by it. Again, we will see if anything can be done about that.’

Hearts will be at Parkhead on the opening weekend of action on August 5 as Celtic begin their pursuit of a seventh straight title.

Pedro Caixinha’s new-look Rangers kick-off their campaign at Motherwell on the same weekend, with TV demands likely to change one or both fixtures announced by the SPFL yesterday.

Following Rangers chairman Dave King’s claims about Celtic’s failure to open up a huge gap on their city rivals, the first Old Firm clash — at Ibrox on Saturday, September 23 — is likely to attract even more interest than usual.

The big two face off again at Celtic Park on Saturday, December 30, before returning to Ibrox on Saturday, March 10. The final Parkhead clash of the campaign is expected to take place after the top-flight split.

Aberdeen, who split the Glasgow pair last season, start at home to Hamilton.

Hibernian — back in the top division after a three-year absence — will hoist the Championsh­ip flag before kicking off the season with a home game against Partick Thistle.

Hibs defender Darren McGregor has already warned the Easter Road team to expect a backlash when they travel to Ibrox just a week later.

The former Rangers player knows his old side will still be hurting after losing out to the Leith men in the 2016 Scottish Cup final.

David Gray’s last-gasp winner snatched the trophy for Hibs on a day marred by ugly scenes as supporters clashed on the Hampden pitch after the final whistle.

Now McGregor says Rangers will be looking for revenge when they welcome Neil Lennon’s newly-promoted side to Ibrox on August 12.

‘It will be one for the fans,’ he said. ‘I’m sure Rangers will be seeking a bit of redemption and it will be a very tough game.

‘I believe they have been in for training from the first week in June, so they will be well prepared.’

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