Scottish Cup Goes Ahead on the 24th May

[RustyBear 13]

Just heard on Clyde that the SFA are about to intervene in the fixtures pile-up row by allowing the Scottish Cup Final to be postponed until the following Wednesday.

While I wholeheartedly agree that something has to be done, it is ridiculous that the SFA have to consider postponing their showpiece game to cover for the spineless SPL management.

The whole purpose of the SPL is to organise a league and provide a competetion whose main prize is entry to the premier European tournaments. Now that one of its members reaches a final, they do nothing to resolve a relatively simple issue.

As for Celtic, they wouldn't know the meaning of "sporting integrity" if it bit them on the backside - They, after all, were the club that used the tragic death of Phil O'Donnell as nothing more than an opportunity to postpone the New Year old firm game when they were on the rack. Shame on you.

The only people I feel sorry for are any fans who had pre-booked transport and accomodation to the final and to Queen of the South.

Absolute disgrace that the only possible solution is to turn on a first division side for the answer.

Shame on you, SPL - Rot in Hell!!

[ayrshire-loyal 3]

agree with you mate,

run by fooking monkeys

[Ace 3,556]

UNDER-FIRE SPL bosses were last night on the verge of a dramatic cave-in to help Rangers in their bid for UEFA Cup glory.

Record Sport can reveal the astonishing U-turn, which will see the season extended by a full week, should be completed today when executive chairman Lex Gold tables an eleventh hour plan to postpone the Scottish Cup Final.

Gold's climbdown, which came about at the end of a day of frantic phone calls and furious rows, will allow the Ibrox club to pull the plug on this Saturday's Ibrox showdown with Dundee United - and give Walter Smith and his players a free week to prepare to play against Zenit St Petersburg for the UEFA Cup in Manchester on May 14.

But it will also enrage Celtic who fear their title defence could be wrecked by giving Rangers more breathing space.

The dramatic new twist came at teatime last night when Gold and secretary Ian Blair found themselves under pressure from SFA president George Peat as well as Rangers chief executive Martin Bain.

Peat was all set to march into the SPL's offices first thing this morning and insist the league be extended to help Rangers get ready for their date with destiny against Dick Advocaat's side.

Both Peat and SFA chief exceutive Gordon Smith believe it would be grossly unfair to force Rangers into playing a crucial league match just four days before they attempt to make history at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Peat told Record Sport: "We should be doing everything in our power to help a Scottish club win in Europe."

Now Peat will have to agree to put back his organisation's own end-of-season showpiece, Rangers v Queen of the South at Hampden.

But sources close to the talks are sure a deal can be struck and expect Gold to make an announcement this afternoon.

It seemed far off yesterday at lunchtime when, Record Sport can reveal, Rangers had a request to postpone Saturday's game turned down flat.

This sparked fury from Bain who demanded Gold think again. Then, when it became clear the SFA were about to wade into the argument and take Rangers' side, it emerged Gold and Blair were beginning to wobble on their previous hard-line stance.

Rangers had been hoping the SPL would follow the lead set by the Russian authorities who have bent over backwards to assist Advcocaat in his quest to land a European prize.

But the the SPL stood firm, demanding Smith's team face United as planned - four days before the game in Manchester.

SPL spokesman Greg Mailer said: "The SPL has decided that we will be pressing on with the fixture model which was announced on April 22, with the season to finish on May 22.

"We can confirm we have received a request from Rangers to postpone their fixture with Dundee United on Saturday. We are unable to do that for a number of different factors one of which is the need for the final round of league matches to be played with simultaneous kick-off times.

"This is necessary to ensure that no one club can gain an advantage over another club in terms of winning the championship or qualification for Europe through the UEFA Cup."

But just hours later, as the pressure mounted, league bosses cracked and informed Rangers they were examining a compromise.

That plan will see Gold ask the SFA to reschedule the Cup Final for May 31.

However, this is guaranteed to spark further controversy as by then First Division minnows Queen of the South would have been idle for five weeks.

Celtic are sure to be spitting feathers also over yet another delay to the season.

Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell was furious at the initial extension of just four days, which was made to assist Rangers' Euro run.

Celtic might even consider a legal challenge to this latest act of goodwill towards their rivals.

Gordon Strachan's side are seven points clear at the top of the table but Rangers have three games in hand.

Understandably, Celtic had been hoping for Rangers to trip up amid the fixture congestion.

However, the SFA are adamant everything possible should be done to assist Smith's men in their bid to become only the fourth Scottish team to win a European trophy.

Peat said: "It's not important that it's Rangers. What matters is that this country has to help one of its own clubs succeed in such a big arena.

"The SPL should be turning somersaults because a Scottish club are in a European final and must reconsider the decision not to postpone Saturday's match."

Ex-Rangers boss Advocaat even expressed his amazemant that the Scottish authorities wouldn't help own of their own clubs but the SFA are out to put that right.

Peat added: "The Dundee United match can be moved and should be moved.

"We should all be doing our utmost to ensure the Scottish club's chances of winning in Europe are enhanced.

"I don't understand why it should be any other way. I really don't see why they can't move this game.

"The SPL have to tell the SFA when they will finish their season and we agree to that so we can then agree to a further extension.

"We have to accept these are exceptional circumstances.

"We have a Scottish club in a European final and if we can't help them there is something wrong.

"It would be exactly the same if it were Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs, Motherwell, Dundee United, any of the others.

"There is an opportunity here to improve the Scottish profile.

"Everything possible should be done and that's what we'll be telling the SPL in the morning."

Rangers were staying tight lipped last night, although Bain is hopeful the saga will finally be resolved today.

Sense seems to have prevailed .... either that or extremely bad publicity

[Saudibear 0]

Well done to the SFA for showing some common sense in helping with a problem that was not of there making. The only problem now is that a cup final should be a big occasion, especially for smaller teams like QoS who may wait 100 years to get there again. It would be a great family day out on a Saturday for everyone involved. With it being on a Wednesday night how many school kids from all over the country might miss out.

[Frankie 505]

So this gives 2 possible run ins to the end of the season:

The ideal solution:

Wed 7 19:45 H Motherwell SPLG

Wed 14 19:45 - FC Zenit UEFA

Sat 17 12:30 A Motherwell SPLG

Tue 20 19:45 A St Mirren SPLG

Sat 24 12:30 H Dundee United SPLG

Tue 27 19:45 A Aberdeen SPLG

Sat 31 15:00 - Queen of South SCP F

or more likely

Wed 7 19:45 H Motherwell SPLG

Wed 14 19:45 - FC Zenit UEFA

Sat 17 12:30 A Motherwell SPLG

Mon 19 19:45 A St Mirren SPLG

Thu 22 19:45 A Aberdeen SPLG

Sat 24 12:30 H Dundee United SPLG

Sat 31 15:00 - Queen of South SCP F

Not sure how either of these get past the problem of playing the final round of games on the same day at the same time though...

[Bastian30 0]

wats angerging me is celtic , states on another article they cud potentially take legal action , ffs why is it wrong for us to have a game moved , if you think about it , they cancelled a game at start of new year due to the death of phil odonnel ,and we agreed to this . but yet dundee still had to play there game and they were more involved as it was in the game v dundee that phil odennel passed away. if celtic hadnt of cancelled that game there wudn b as many games left to play , also 2003 they had a game moved due to the fact they was playing in the uefa cup. i dont get the spl are we really that hated

[stuartm 7]

About time too!

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

The article in the Daily Record says the cup final is to be rescheduled for 31st May - basically though they are still talking about it but there will be an announcement this afternoon. Celtic are raging BTW!!

[Guest Andypendek]

good times- sfa and gordon smith for common sense

bad times - unfair on QoS, both the weds for a final plus they have already waited since the end of their season plus they have people who have made arrangements to travel widely also. end of smith at sfa, tims will make his job untenable now. hurray! he'll be replaced by an SPL type fud. a great day, indeed.

[Frankie 505]

George Peat (SFA President) has been the man behind the changes - not Gordon Smith.

And the Cup Final is more likely to be played the following Saturday - not the Wednesday.

[docspiderman 1,233]

The cup Final should stay on the 24th and have the final spl game on the 31st May.

[JR 1,480]

I will merge these two topics gents

[JR 1,480]

What a bonus playing at home on the last game of the season could prove to be

[Bastian30 0]

Personally id rather the play the cup final last, no disrespect to QoS but our hardest games are in the lg title chase

[JR 1,480]

Personally id rather the play the cup final last, no disrespect to QoS but our hardest games are in the lg title chase

Same I was referring to the League fixtures only

[wertp72 0]

Are they going to cave in and extend season bya full week?

According to Daily Rebel.

Watch this space. Not holding breath.

[Poetry_In_Blue 1,043]

Some common sense seems to have prevailed at last, don't care what the rest of the SPL teams think, they're just jealous that they are never in this enviable position.

Hopefully QofS will be able to arrange some friendlies before the Scottish Cup final which will be better played on the 31 May, hell I'm sure our youngsters will be happy to play them for experience.

[Boab 73]

http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Ne...1306262,00.html

Good on you George Peat

Forgive me, I'm, in college and not on firefox and so cannot copy and paste.

[McBoyd 355]

RANGERS could be given a full week to prepare for the UEFA Cup Final after the SFA got involved in the fixture debate last night.

And it could lead to the Scottish Cup Final being moved.

The Light Blues made an application to have Saturday's Dundee United match at Ibrox called off to give them seven days to get ready for Manchester on May 14.

This was turned down by the SPL but it is being reported that the SPL and SFA will meet today to discuss a new extension to the season

SFA president George Peat told the Daily Record: "It's not important that it's Rangers. What matters is that this country has to help one of its own clubs succeed in such a big arena.

"The SPL should be turning somersaults because a Scottish club are in a European final and must reconsider the decision not to postpone Saturday's match.

"The Dundee United match can be moved and should be moved. We should all be doing our utmost to ensure the Scottish club's chances of winning in Europe are enhanced.

"I don't understand why it should be any other way. I really don't see why they can't move this game.

"The SPL have to tell the SFA when they will finish their season and we agree to that so we can then agree to a further extension.

"We have to accept these are exceptional circumstances. We have a Scottish club in a European final and if we can't help them there is something wrong.

"It would be exactly the same if it were Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs, Motherwell, Dundee United, any of the others.

"There is an opportunity here to improve the Scottish profile. Everything possible should be done and that's what we'll be telling the SPL in the morning."

MORE ON THIS STORY AS IT BREAKS

[Boab 73]

Thank you mcboyd

[McBoyd 355]

Right on. They helped the mhanks a few years back, they can help us.

No worries mate

[JR 1,480]

already posted...commencing merge

[ShootSpeedKillLight 0]

The stupidity of Celtic never ceases to amaze me. I bet they haven't even considered that if this once they were to give us the benefit of the doubt, and allow the extension, instead of kicking and screaming like babies, then if in the future they somehow managed to get themselves into a similar situation (God forbid they should ever be on for the Quad) they would most likely get similar treatment, and be helped out by the SFA/SPL.

[jamd1986 8]

This should have been sorted out days ago. I'm really annoyed at the SPL and Celtic.

There is not one good reason as to why the season cannot be extended. The Scottish Cup final could have easily been put back to a week later (why QotS are saying this is the one fixture that cannot be moved I'll never know as they've yet to justify their argument for this).

Celtic are just being hypocritical wankers with every intention to have us ending up with nothing. They got a week to prepare for Seville, therefore we should have a week to prepare for our European final too. And if Celtic got to another European final I'd fully expect them to be given a week to prepare, especially if their opponents have been given a few weeks to prepare. THAT is true sporting integrity, where both teams have an equal chance!

It is no fault of Rangers that this season has a backlog of fixtures due to bad weather and the tragic death of player, along with Scottish cup games having to be replayed (although we should have got the job done first time with these teams, considering the circumstances the rules should have been changed for games ending in a draw going to E.T) and the arrangement of a meaningless International friendly.

SPL, you messed it up! Now you have to fix it in order for us to benefit from our outstanding European success; a one in a lifetime opportunity for our club and our national game. No way should you be caving into a disgruntled Celtic side who a cringing at the prospect of us winning all 4 trophys and ending up with nothing themselves, expect an unjust Player's Player of the Year from a guy who only turned up to dazzle for a handful of games this season.

To the Quad!

[J_RFC87 761]

This should have been sorted out days ago. I'm really annoyed at the SPL and Celtic.

There is not one good reason as to why the season cannot be extended. The Scottish Cup final could have easily been put back to a week later (why QotS are saying this is the one fixture that cannot be moved I'll never know as they've yet to justify their argument for this).

Celtic are just being hypocritical wankers with every intention to have us ending up with nothing. They got a week to prepare for Seville, therefore we should have a week to prepare for our European final too. And if Celtic got to another European final I'd fully expect them to be given a week to prepare, especially if their opponents have been given a few weeks to prepare. THAT is true sporting integrity, where both teams have an equal chance!

It is no fault of Rangers that this season has a backlog of fixtures due to bad weather and the tragic death of player, along with Scottish cup games having to be replayed (although we should have got the job done first time with these teams, considering the circumstances the rules should have been changed for games ending in a draw going to E.T) and the arrangement of a meaningless International friendly.

SPL, you messed it up! Now you have to fix it in order for us to benefit from our outstanding European success; a one in a lifetime opportunity for our club and our national game. No way should you be caving into a disgruntled Celtic side who a cringing at the prospect of us winning all 4 trophys and ending up with nothing themselves, expect an unjust Player's Player of the Year from a guy who only turned up to dazzle for a handful of games this season.

To the Quad!

Good post