Gordon Smith is pretty unlikable.

In the words of Mark E Smith and the seminal, ‘How I Wrote The Elastic Man’,

“The Observer Magazine sums him up e.g. smug, self-satisfied”

However, following the phrase that even a stopped watch is right twice a day, Smudger may have struck upon a reasonable idea.

Is it time for the SPL and the SFL to move to “summer football”?

The Womens game in Scotland has shifted to a season running from March to November, with a break in July. Admittedly, the womens game in Scotland has fewer teams, so an extra month or two may be required but this move is likely to gather some popularity.

Smith remarked to BBC Scotland,

“I would like to see us move towards the better months throughout our football”

It wont take long for people to say that waiting for the better months in Scotland could lead to a very long wait but the idea is good in principle.

Asking people to travel in rain, wind and snow is not great and the risk of postponements or abandonment remains, which can cost clubs a lot of money.

There are many reasons why a change in the months Scottish football teams play football should happen and one is the growing number of catastrophes suffered in European qualifiers.

It can’t all be blamed on not playing in the summer time. Having First Division teams in Europe because of the Cup runner up spot hasn’t helped.

Celtic could have been playing continuously since Spring 2008 and they would still have fallen short against Arsenal in the Champions League qualifier.

However, being up to speed in time for the July and August qualifiers could make a big difference.

At the moment, Scottish teams failing in the qualifiers are having a detrimental effect on the co-efficient points, which is making it harder for teams to push on in Europe. There is a cyclical nature of the co-efficient points in Europe and once you get locked in a downward spiral, it can be difficult to break out of it.

Celtic and Rangers, and who knows, maybe Hibs and Dundee United are facing the risk of Champions League places being even more limited than what they are now.

If Scotland drops to one Champions League, which has to be earned via a qualifier, the money flowing into the game will drop considerably. Like the co-efficient issue, this situation can quickly fall into a downward spiral, causing bigger troubles in the Scottish game.

It may lead to a greater level of competition in the Scottish game but if the ability to progress and compete in Europe is denied to SPL clubs, the game will be in a very bad way.

So…and it may pain us to say this, Gordon Smith should be heard on this aspect. There are negative issues surrounding this decision, club’s finances are always going to be at the forefront of any argument and this may prevent some clubs from voting for change but there should at least be a discussion and consideration of the matter.

Smith and the SFA are powerless to force the SPL and SFL to make this switch but as the games governing body, they will hopefully have some level of persuasion and power over how the game is run.

Then again, there are plenty of times when it is easy to wish that they had no power at all!

Would you be in favour of a move of the Scottish football season?


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