Making sense of the football fixture frenzy SPFL chief reveals headache of arranging matches
SPFL director of operations Iain Blair has revealed just how difficult it is to make the fixture frenzy fair following last week’s confirmation of the upcoming Championship fixture list.
Blair insists many factors come into play when trying to arrange matches for every weekend, including other events in the towns and cities across the country.
St Mirren have been confirmed to play Falkirk at home on the opening day of the season, before facing Morton away from home the following Saturday.
They will then round off the season, again at home to Falkirk to bring an end to upcoming campaign.
Blair said: “There are many factors.
“Clubs may ask not to be at home on certain days due to local events which could have an impact, and we also liaise with Police Scotland and do our best to accommodate any requests they may have.
“Recurring examples include limiting the instances of Hearts being at home when there are major rugby internationals at Murrayfield, Ayr United playing away when the Scottish Grand National and Scottish Air Show are on, Raith Rovers being away for the Links Market in Kirkcaldy and the many dates Queen’s Park cannot use Hampden due to internationals and cup semi-finals and finals.
“A number of clubs must play at home on different weekends ( some posing cross- divisional challenges) – Celtic/ Rangers, Hearts/ Hibernian, Dundee/ Dundee United and Ross County/ Inverness CT. All of that has been achieved with the exception of two clashes in Edinburgh, but both of those are midweeks and will be easily dealt with.
“We look to accommodate specific requests where we can, but ensuring the integrity of the competition is always paramount.”
Blair added: “Across the four divisions, all clubs who start the season away will finish at home, and all have three home and three away fixtures in their opening six games.
“We try to limit the instances of clubs playing H-H or A-A but it is mathematically impossible to have alternate home and away games every week and the specific constraints/requests that go into the recipe increases the number of ‘doubles.”