Inconvenience is all part of the deal when it comes to football clubs staying solvent

HE deal which the SPFL struck with BT Sport last year to broadcast the revamped League Cup was hailed as something of a coup at the time – and with some justification.

The £8 million four-year contract with the satellite station was, after all, worth more than double what the previous agreement with the BBC had been.

The £150,000 which is received for each of the 13 games screened live in the Betfred-sponsored competition every season may be paltry in comparison with other tournaments in Europe. Nevertheless, the significant increase in revenue should have been warmly welcomed by Scottish clubs striving to break even during an economic downturn.

The promise of more extensive coverage will, too, have been largely responsible for securing a sponsor for the first time since 2013. Bookmakers Betfred will pay £1m over three years to have their name associated with the League Cup.

There was no mention of any of this, though, in the statement which Aberdeen issued at the weekend expressing their reservations about both the kick-off time and venue for their semi-final against Morton next month.

The Pittodrie club is unhappy the game will get under way at 12.15pm at Hampden on Saturday, October 22. They feel it is “very regrettable” as well as “a major disadvantage to our fantastic travelling support” and will have “a very negative impact on what should be a great day out”.

It would, of course, be far better if the tie was to kick off at 3pm. That is true of all matches. But clubs cannot gratefully accept television money only to then complain about the inconvenience caused by the inevitable scheduling changes which then follow. They must accept it is the reality of the modern game.

Scotland already lags way behind the England, France, Italy, Germany and Spain when it comes to the money accrued from broadcasting deals. So to bleat about the ramifications of those which they do have in place is nonsensical.

Anyway, is the 12.15pm kick-off time for the semi-final really such a major disadvantage to Aberdeen supporters? There are no fewer than five trains as well as numerous buses from Aberdeen to Glasgow on the morning of the game which will all get them to Hampden with time to spare.

The Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden won’t be a sell-out.

But holding it at the National Stadium will allow the large number of Aberdeen and Morton supporters who want to cheer on their team to be accommodated.