pete 2,499 Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Rangers chief executive Martin Bain believes Celtic's veiled plea to the Scottish Premier League not to extend the season to ease the Light Blues' congested fixture list was based on the fear of losing their title to the Ibrox men. Bain's Parkhead counterpart, Peter Lawwell, turned the pressure on the SPL on Friday by suggesting that an extension to the season would "threaten the integrity" of the competition. Walter Smith's side are facing a fixture pile-up due to their continued involvement in the UEFA Cup, a Scottish Cup quarter-final replay against Partick Thistle and two outstanding SPL matches to be re-arranged over and above the Old Firm game at Parkhead - postponed at the New Year - which was pencilled in for April 16. There has been talk of Rangers, who went six points clear of the champions at the top of the SPL with a 2-1 win over Hibernian at Ibrox on Saturday, being forced to play four games in eight games with an extension to the season the only other viable possibility. Asked his view on why Lawwell came out with his statement, Bain said: "It's probably more to do with the fact that there is a points difference at the moment. "Why would we want to play eight games in four days? Our preference is to extend the season if it comes to that. "But it might not come to that and I have to say that both Lex Gold SPL executive chairman) and Iain Blair have put a number of options to us which we are considering but it might be taken out of our hands." "I'm not prone to comment on other's comments but what I would say to you is that to ask this football club to play four games in eight days, when we could be possibly competing in European competition, is not something that I think the SPL would do to be quite frank, Bain told Radio Clyde. "Rangers' involvement in the UEFA Cup affects everything, from the co-efficient to Scottish football (as a whole), so I think it would be rather foolhardy to ask us to play four games in eight days." Funny the stand from Peter Lawwell,when the cancellation of the New year OF fixture was his doing. They are shaking in their boots. We are the people!!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,552 Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 I like the measured tone of Bain's comments. Just wish the club would say such stuff more often. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 847 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 The SFA arent helping by throwing in another international game this midweek - ok i can see that the clubs involved in Euro 08 needs games but with title run-in's etc its a bit mad to take players from the top clubs away. We could have played Partick in the replay this midweek had the game not been on. But its also been a bit of bad luck by having replays in both the Hibs and Partick games. We just need to get the cup games out the way. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,720 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I like the measured tone of Bain's comments. Just wish the club would say such stuff more often. Agreed mate. Nice to see you back 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,623 Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I like the measured tone of Bain's comments. Just wish the club would say such stuff more often. All credit to Bain for that. Just a shame Murray's comments about our support weren't so measured. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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