Source: Team_Talk
SPL bring back New Year derby duels
The Scottish Premier League have confirmed that the popular New Year meeting between Celtic and Rangers will remain next season.[LNB] SPL bosses have also assured the Scottish Football Association that Old Firm derbies will not clash with Scotland games.[LNB]Efforts have been made to ensure the famous fixture will not take place just before or after international dates.[LNB]Speaking ahead of Thursday's publication of the new season fixtures, SPL secretary Iain Blair said: "A big issue in the past has been the scheduling of the Old Firm derbies.[LNB]"Hopefully the guys at the Scottish FA will appreciate that there won't be an Old Firm derby either before or after any of the international dates next season.[LNB]"The Old Firm fans should look forward to another New Year derby though - we reintroduced them last year and this was popular.[LNB]"In fact, all the local derbies will take place on the New Year card. This has the added benefit of minimising travel around this time of year."[LNB]The controversial league-split was again met with criticism last term, attracting complaints from several clubs.[LNB]Blair added: "The split system does throw up issues and imbalances.[LNB]"These happen when a club who finished in the top six one year finishes in the bottom six the next year or vice versa.[LNB]"But if Celtic, Dundee United, Hearts, Hibernian, Motherwell and Rangers finish in the top six this season then all clubs will play 19 home games and 19 away games.[LNB]"Also, if this happens, clubs in each half of the split will play their opponents twice at home and twice away.[LNB]"Most of the games have also been reversed from last season.[LNB]"For example, the first Old Firm derby was at Ibrox last year, so this year it will be at Celtic Park."[LNB]This season sees Inverness replace Falkirk in the top-flight and Blair admits the inclusion of the Highlanders has also thrown up some challenges for the SPL.[LNB]He said: "It is a fact that, for most fans, Inverness is a bit further away than Falkirk.[LNB]"It's an extra few hours up the A9 for the clubs in the central belt but we just have to deal with that.[LNB]"You need to put it in context though, down south you have Middlesbrough and Portsmouth in the same division for example.[LNB]"We look at which clubs have had long journeys on midweek nights or at Christmas in recent seasons and try to avoid repeating them.[LNB]"But we can't have Inverness playing away on all those dates, that wouldn't be fair either."
