Source: PA
Lennon: SPL kick-off too early
Celtic manager Neil Lennon feels next season's Clydesdale Bank Premier League kick-off is three weeks too early - but he hopes it can at least prepare his players for the early stages of European competition.
The SPL announced that the opening fixtures will take place on July 23, three weeks earlier than this campaign, although the competition has kicked off in July on five occasions since being formed in 1998. Celtic have been allowed to opt out of their fixture on July 30-31 to take part in the Dublin Super Cup with Manchester City, Inter Milan and a League of Ireland select.
"It's three weeks earlier than we wanted," Lennon said.
"I will have players away on international duty at the end of the season - their close season is going to be curtailed even more.
"There is no winter break, which I thought was the point of bringing the season back earlier. So we are not altogether delighted with things in that respect."
Lennon did admit there could be some positives in the earlier start. If Celtic win the league, they might have to start their Champions League qualifying campaign on July 12-13, although their European campaign could also kick off in the last midweek of the month.
"It might give us the chance to prepare if we are in the qualifying rounds for Europe. It might give us the opportunity to get the players in early and hit the ground running for Europe but that will be about it," the former Celtic captain said.
"Players these days seems to play 52 weeks a year so that (fatigue) will be a concern for us when the time comes, we will have to see how they are physically and mentally when they come back."
Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist, who is preparing for his first season in charge of the club, felt the decision was overdue.
"I'm just delighted we know when it is now," McCoist said. "We should have known a while ago because you've got to plan for tournaments, pre-season games, fixtures, players leaving and coming in. My overriding feeling is thank goodness we know when it starts so we can prepare."