Archibald calls foul on fixture opt-outs
PARTICK THISTLE boss Alan Archibald believes the SPFL should end the ‘farcical’ situation of clubs being allowed to opt out of one Premiership fixture to play a friendly. The Firhill side will be left idle this weekend due to Celtic postponing their home game between the clubs to instead take on Inter Milan in an International Champions Cup match in Limerick. It is the second time in three seasons that Thistle have been forced into a lay-off thanks to a rule Archibald feels is harmful to the image of the top flight. ‘I don’t have too much to say about it because it will sound like sour grapes, but it’s happened to us again and we just need to get on with it,’ said Archibald, whose side won their Premiership opener against Inverness Caley Thistle. ‘I do think it’s a bit farcical whoever it happens to, it’s not great to have a weekend off but it’s happened to us again. ‘I think it’s disrespectful to the rest of the teams and it makes the league look poor, I don’t think it happens anywhere else that I’m aware of. ‘I’m not saying that we were going to go and beat Celtic, but who is to say that we weren’t going to go and do it?’ Thistle have also suffered a major blow after midfielder Stuart Bannigan — who rejoined the club on a twoyear deal this summer — was ruled out for between six and nine months. It has now been decided the 23-year-old needs surgery to cure a knee injury suffered last April. ‘Having consulted with one of the country’s best knee specialists the decision was taken that the best course of action to get Stuart back playing as soon as possible was continued physiotherapy and rehabilitation,’ said a club statement. ‘In recent weeks though it became clear that this course of action was not progressing as was expected and, following further consultation, it was decided that knee surgery is the only way forward, meaning the player is looking at a recovery period of six to nine months.’