Fixture FARCE as marathon talks with TV bosses ensure league chiefs are...

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..."NOWHERE NEAR" revealing post-split matches.

 

HAMPDEN source admits it’s an "embarrassment" as broadcasters and cops fail to come to an agreement – and season could creep into JUNE!.

 

SCOTTISH leagues bosses are locked in marathon talks with broadcasters and cops after failing to agree on the post-split top-flight fixtures.

 

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster had expected to announce the dates of all matches in this season’s climax this afternoon.

 

But, despite spending the past two days in negotiations with the bosses of Sky TV and BT Sport as well as Police Scotland, no agreement was even close to being reached by close of business.

 

It is now hoped a solution can be found today as Doncaster battles against the clock to rubber-stamp the run-in.

 

A source close to the talks told Record Sport: “To say this process is proving incredibly difficult would be something of an understatement.

 

"It’s not just a case of two rival broadcasters arguing over who gets the best live games and when, but it’s also further complicated by the requirements of the police.

 

“At this moment in time it’s fair to say we are nowhere near reaching an agreement.

 

"People will obviously describe this an embarrassment which it is but it’s also a highly-complicated situation. On top of everything else there is an imbalance in this year’s fixtures which has been thrown up because Hamilton did not make the top six.

 

“As a result of this, difficult decisions have to be made and it’s going to be impossible to keep everyone happy. When anyone is asked to play away from home three times in one season against the same club it becomes problematic. But these are the issues which arise from having the split and they have to be dealt with.”

 

The talks have been further complicated by the possibility of either Falkirk or Hibs - who face each other in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi final - also reaching the final promotion play-off for place in next season’s Premiership. Such a scenario would force the SPFL to extend the season into June.

 

It is likely that, even if the post split fixtures are announced tomorrow, a definitive date for the play-off final will be held back until next week at the earliest.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fixture-farce-marathon-talks-tv-5519398

[calscot 0]

The whole split just doesn't work with one big club. You can end up with three clubs getting just one big home attendance, three clubs who don't make the cut getting two, and the odd time a top six one gets three, with the rest getting two, apart from Celtic, who get none.

 

The whole point was that all clubs were guaranteed three big home games and the top six ones got four.

 

So now it's all uneven and doesn't really reward the top 5 after Celtic.

 

Complete shambles.