Reid: SPL winter shutdown is a no-go

Dec 23 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid this week backed plans to extend the current SPL season as clubs face a backlog of games – but said a winter break isn’t the answer.

Harsh winter weather has been causing havoc with the sporting calendar and Accies’ home match against Celtic last Saturday was called off due to a burst water mains and a fault with the undersoil heating.

As the Advertiser went to press, there was already serious doubt over the Boxing Day clash against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.

A trip to St Johnstone needs to be rearranged and a rescheduled New Douglas Park clash against Hibs on Wednesday was called off due to a frozen pitch.

Accies haven’t played since November 27 but Reid reckons SPL chiefs need to be sensible about any changes.

Reid said: “I think everybody will be concerned about a fixtures backlog; there’s talk of the season being extended and if it keeps on like this then we probably must do that.

“But we’ll play the games put down in front of us; that’s why we have a squad and we’re going to need everybody.

“People are talking about reintroducing a winter break but when do you do it? Is it in November, December or January? There could be worse weather to come.

“There has to be a radical shake-up of the game – it’s much needed. Anything that makes it better is fine by me.”

One idea thrown up that Reid doesn’t necessarily support, however, is reducing the top flight to 10 clubs.

He said: “I’m not an opponent of reducing the league in terms of progression, but I think the most important thing is that we need to start bringing young players through and I don’t see how splitting it into two leagues is going to do that – I think it’s so competitive and cut-throat at the top end already.

“I hope we get it right because at the end of the day the most important thing is club survival.

“Clubs like Hamilton Accies not playing for five or six weeks is difficult – how do the wages get paid?”

Looking ahead to Hamilton’s Boxing Day trip to Dundee United, Reid said: “Going up to Tannadice would be a decent start back for us but I’m hearing that conditions up there are bad.

“We’re trying to keep the players ticking over indoors and we need a game.

“We last played on November 27 and that is one of the longest periods I can remember for quite some time.

“When I got into the car on Tuesday morning it was -11° and I think that tells its own story.”

Reid added: “We were supposed to have had five out of six games at home and that hasn’t happened but we can’t control that – we’ve got to take what is thrown in front of us.

“In the next week, if weather permits, we’ve got home games against Aberdeen and Motherwell, and they’re two decent fixtures. We’ve also got a Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Alloa here on January 8 and that’s important because we’re trying to progress in that competition as well.

“We’ve just got to be ready when the time comes and we’re certainly not match-fit – we’re playing training games but it’s not the same.”

Reid was disappointed with call-offs to the home matches against Celtic and Hibs as he felt they were good opportunities to get points on the board.

He said: “We were built-up for the game on Saturday, we thought it was a right good time to get Celtic as I knew two or three of their key players were injured and it was a live TV game, so there was a real buzz about us right up until the day before.

“The players were devastated because it would have been a smashing game to get back into.

“We’ve tried to pick it up in the last couple of days and it’s been a wee bit flat if I’m being honest but you expect that – we’ve worked pretty hard in preparation for these games, and probably more than enough to have taken us into the game against Hibs on Wednesday.

“Had the game been on we would probably have over-trained, but we had to do that – we’ll now have two or three days off and hopefully come back ready for Sunday.”

Supporters are reminded that Wednesday’s match against Aberdeen at New Douglas Park kicks off at 3pm, weather permitting.