SPFL winter break vote was ‘a good week for democracy’ claims league boss Neil Doncaster
NEIL DONCASTER claims the SPFL winter break vote was "a good week for democracy".
The Premiership campaign will stop for three weeks after the Boxing Day fixtures - a week earlier than scheduled.
SPFL chief executive Doncaster confirmed ten of out the 12 Premiership clubs wanted to bring it forward due to crowd limits of 500.
Initial plans to stop the campaign after Wednesday's fixtures were ruled out by the SPFL due to fixture congestion.
But Hibs owner Ron Gordon's compromise proposal of breaking after Sunday's games was voted through by the board.
Doncaster said: "Our view at the league is that any voluntary postponement creates difficulties, because you are limiting the flexibility to deal with further disruptions.
"We were really keen to play as many games as early as possible, but we have to be mindful of what the clubs want.
"We are a membership organisation at the end of the day.
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"We consulted with the clubs on Wednesday and the views came back slightly more mixed.
"Ron Gordon came back with a compromise that we should play on Boxing Day and postpone the other two fixtures to available slots in the new year.
"That ultimately was where the board were, and a number of clubs rode behind that option.
"It's important to note the board reflected on what the majority of clubs wanted.
"Ten out of 12 cinch Premiership clubs wanted to postpone games and we have been able to do that.
"I think it has been a good week for democracy and working with the membership, albeit extremely disappointing that we have had to confront these restrictions."
It's understood Rangers and Ross County were against postponements of any fixtures and instead wanted to play on.
The change means the Old Firm clash at Parkhead on January 2 has now been put back to Wednesday, February 2.
Asked how much harmony there was over the final decision, Doncaster said "Ultimately, ten out of the 12 clubs were of the view that we should be postponing fixtures.
"There is, if not a unanimous view, a broad consensus that it should happen.
"We have two available slots in the new year and we have been able to use them.
"It's really important - the clubs felt this - that we should give every possible chance for fans to be present at what are key games in the fixture calendar.
"New year games, new year derbies in particular commercially are worth a huge amount of money to the membership."
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Doncaster remains in talks with the Scottish Government over the relaxing of the current 500 limit on fans.
Boxing Day fixtures will be played with those restrictions - but he hopes bigger crowds will return when the league restarts on January 17.
He told BBC Scotland "All the signs are that Omicron appears to be less serious than previous variants of Covid-19.
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"We are certainly very hopeful that the Scottish government will wish to lift the restrictions as soon as possible.
"It is our sincere hope that, by working with the Scottish government, that those restrictions are lifted as soon as practically possible and we can get back to full houses and people enjoying their game."
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