This sabre rattling from the Fir Park boardroom will do absolutely nothing to alter the problem faced by the SPL administrators when they have the task of scheduling the last five games of the season. The way to ensure that every team plays the same number of home and away games is to abolish the split or enlarge the league.
The power to make such changes lies entirely with the member clubs and it seems unlikely that Motherwell will be making such a proposal. The solution to many of the deep rooted concerns voiced by clubs from time to time over issues like the split, retention of home gates, distribution of TV money and the loss of control of fixture dates and the U21 rule lies in clubs acting together in the democratic nature of the SPL. Make a proposal, lobby for support and win the vote – that’s how to effect change. Easy calls of protest have no effect.
Look at the ineffective bleating that followed the Old Firm clubs outrageous charge for selling tickets tickets for their away matches. Did the rest band together to outlaw the practice and enshrine fair treatment in the SPL rules? No, after a few headline grabbing schemes from individual clubs we hear no more of it.
That is not to say that the distribution of post-split fixtures is without criticism. It will not come as a surprise to discover that since the split was introduced there has never been an occasion when any of the ‘big teams’ has had only 18 home games. Amazingly, Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and Hibs have always found themselves with a 19/19 balance. Since its introduction, the ‘split’ system has produced 18 home matches during a single season for Aberdeen, Inverness CT, Livingston, Kilmarnock and Gretna and now, Motherwell.
The crazy decision to arrange a Motherwell v Hibs game on a Thursday evening is bad enough but when that Thursday happens to be on the day of the election it borders on madness. Has there ever been a top flight game played on a General Election day in the history of Scottish football?
Motherwell’s statement on the affair is printed below but the club knows that the way to prevent the need similar protests in future is to change the SPL rules by arguing the case at an AGM.
The Board of Motherwell FC are deeply concerned about the outcome of the post split fixtures and its implication for the sporting and financial position of the Club.
We are seeking an immediate discussion with the SPL on what has happened and why and have a duty of care to our fans, shareholders and employees to ensure that the apparent inequity we have been asked to suffer is remedied.
We understand that the SPL cannot please everyone with every fixture decision, but the decision making process has resulted in a deeply unfair outcome both competitively and financially and we cannot let that stand.
All avenues of protest will be considered.
Leeann Dempster
Chief Executive