Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LIVI ARE SO LIVID
Boss Holt fumes as weather-hit fixture is set for 24 hours later
FURIOUS Gary Holt last night slammed the SPFL’s decision to pressgang Livingston into playing Rangers today at less than 24 hours’ notice.
The West Lothian club felt bullied into the quick-fix rearrangement after the game was called off at 12.50 yesterday.
It’s believed Livi assistant boss Davie Martindale was opposed to the request for a one-day turnaround in a private call from Rangers manager Steven Gerrard – and offered Monday night as an alternative.
But the next call Livi officials took was from the SPFL telling them the game had been fixed for this afternoon with a 3pm kick-off.
League bosses are already facing a fixture nightmare with Rangers – who still have a game in hand with St Johnstone to fit in pre-split – playing Braga in the last 32 of the Europa League on Thursday and then the following Wednesday.
If they make it through, it wipes out two more midweeks in March.
However, Holt (below) insists the short-notice shift is a major headache for them and thoughtless for both sets of fans.
The manager fumed: “We’ll do what we’re obliged to do but I’m not happy about it.
“It was too quick a fix and there was not nearly enough thought went into arriving at it. I’m not a weatherman but a quick look at the forecast tells you it doesn’t look like it’s going to be any better for the 24 hours in between – so is the same thing going to happen to us and both sets of fans again?
“We suggested Monday night, which made far more sense but what do we know?
“It’s a logistical nightmare for us, from having to get a different team bus to sorting a pre-match meal at less than 24 hours notice.”
As Storm Dennis swept Scotland, referee Euan Anderson and fourth official Don Robertson joined Gerrard on an Ibrox pitch the Gers boss had himself criticised as ‘awful’ after their home win over Hibs 10 days ago.
They officially called the game off just before 1pm as Livingston were boarding the bus to the stadium from their pre-match meal.
With their nightmare scenario unfolding, SPFL chiefs immediately inserted themselves into the negotiations for the rearranged game.
A league source said: “We want our teams to be going through in Europe so it’s presenting us with a set of circumstances which will be a problem if they do. There are very few alternatives, if any.”
Livingston issued a statement via Twitter and said: “We can confirm that the game with Rangers has been rearranged for Sunday at 3pm.
“As a club, we tried to rearrange for Monday to allow the weather to pass and fans to make alternative arrangements but, ultimately, the decision was made by the SPFL.”