Rangers Football Club 0 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 MATCHES against St Johnstone, Aberdeen and St Mirren all rearranged More... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,843 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 HE SPL have announced the rearrangement of three league games involving Rangers which were cancelled towards the end of 2010 because of bad weather. After the Ibrox outfit went out of the Europa League last week, they now have more free dates in which to play some of their outstanding fixtures. The trip to play St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park will now take place a week on Tuesday on April 5 at 6pm, with the game being shown live on ESPN. After a match at Hamilton on April 10, Walter Smith will then take his players on the road for a third consecutive away game when they visit Aberdeen. That game against the Dons will take place on Wednesday April 13, with kick off at 7.45pm. As things stand, that game will not be broadcast on television. The third fixture to be rescheduled is a home tie with St Mirren and with both clubs no longer in the hunt for the Scottish Cup, they will meet on semi-final weekend. That clash takes place on Saturday April 16, when the Buddies will come along the M8 for a game kicking off at Ibrox at 3pm. As usual the supporters are the least of the SPL's worries. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest carmylebear Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Falling attendances everywhere but I'm sure a 6pm kick off in Perth will help that, NOT. They simply could not care less what these things mean to the fans. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I think they are trying to squeeze these games in while not incurring the wrath of UEFA. Seems to me that they should just not televise these games and then there would be no clash. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,831 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 OLD Firm fans last night reacted furiously after the SPL scheduled 6pm midweek kick-offs away to St Johnstone for both Rangers and Celtic. The Glasgow giants will travel to McDiarmid Park on consecutive weeks next month for early starts after the crucial league encounters rearranged yesterday. And supporters on both sides of the Old Firm divide were up in arms at the controversial move which both the SPL and Saints chief Geoff Brown insist was brought about by a set of extreme circumstances. The games in Perth were selected to be broadcast live on ESPN but UEFA dictates no top-flight matches can be screened at the same time as live European club competition games - or clubs risk a fine. And with Champions League and Europa League fixtures due to be played every midweek until the SPL split - by which time the games must be played - it left them with little option. John Macmillan, general secretary of Rangers Supporters' Association, said: "I think it's ridiculous. It seems to me another case of the fans - in my view the most impor tant people in the game - being an afterthought. "A 6pm kick-off for a midweek match in Perth means a lot of fans would have to take a half day or even full day off work which isn't very convenient in the current climate. The SPL could have negotiated an extension to the season as one possible way around this." Rangers travel to McDiarmid Park on April 5 with the Hoops the visitors seven days later and Alan Horne, president of the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters' Club, isn't happy. He said: "It's farcical to make us travel to Perth for a 6pm kick-off on a Tuesday. Fans are going to be inconvenienced. "People travelling from the east will hit the Forth Bridge and from the west the Kingston Bridge during rush-hour traffic. "It's horrendous and once again fans are being treated like second-class citizens." SPL secretar y Iain Blair explained the reasons behind the decision. He said: "Fixture congestion this season has been unusually severe. "In addition, it is essential to ensure games which might have an impact on the top six/bottom six split are played by April 16 to enable the post-split fixture schedule to be prepared. "We also have broadcast agreements which provide substantial revenue to Scottish football and have a responsibility to honour these agreements. "A further factor is UEFA have determined there should be no televised football from the top division domestic football in conflict with its matches in the Champions League and Europa League. If UEFA requirements are not met there would be a financial penalty to all our clubs. "We do understand the dissatisfaction expressed by fans wishing to attend these matches. Indeed, we have brought this dissatisfaction to the attention of UEFA." St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown said: "I think it's a case of like it or lump it - we sold our souls to television and we have to go with it. "We're also los ing out because of the kick-off time. We don't expect to have the numbers there might have been for the original dates for both games." Rangers will be away to Aberdeen on Wednesday, April 13 before hosting St Mirren on Saturday, April 16 in the other rearranged matches. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2011/03/25/old-firm-fans-furious-as-spl-schedule-6pm-kick-off-midweek-games-for-rangers-celtic-against-st-johnstone-86908-23014544/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.