Smith offers his backing to a new winter shutdown

Rangers boss Walter Smith has called for a winter shutdown to end Scotland's fixture farce - but only if a proper break is returned on a permanent basis.

More Rangers news

The Ibrox manager, who has seen his team's last two matches postponed because of poor weather, favours the establishment of an annual hiatus spanning January and February.

Brushing aside concerns over teams being caught cold in European competitions after a lengthy lay- off, the top flight's most-experienced gaffer added his voice to a pro-break lobby headed by SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.


The SPL previously conducted an on-off experiment with a shutdown for three out of four seasons from 1999, before cash-flow concerns among club chairmen prompted a return to the traditional schedule in 2003.

But former Scotland manager Smith said: "They should not have it for a season or two, then decide we won't have it again.

"If they're going to do it, they need to do it and stick by it. Most of the other countries seem to manage a break, they just have a shorter period in the summer.

"So, if they're thinking of making a change, they should stick by it. I would be in favour of a break, but that would be nullified if it was only going to last two years. It wouldn't be worth doing then."

Asked if the prospect of a two-month shutdown would hamper sides who have qualified for the latter stages of UEFA competitions, Smith responded: "Germany do it and so do other countries.

"I'm not going to determine what length of time it would be. But other countries do it and it doesn't inhibit their teams a great deal, in terms of how they do in European games. Two months might be stretching it a bit far, though.

"But, when you look at the situation right now, there is an element of doubt over fixtures. If you look at December, we had very few fixtures cancelled.

"They've nearly always been in January and February, as far as I can recall. If you look to take a break during that period, then it would be fine. It just means the season, at the start and at the end, goes a week or so longer.

"Having the winter shutdown would help because you would know that you had the break coming up and, if you're going to extend the season a couple of weeks into the summer, that is a decent time for fans to come out and watch games.

"After a congested period of games, it would give clubs a bit of respite. There is a benefit in terms of enthusiasm for the second half of the season."

The SPL review the subject on an annual basis but, despite huge support for a shutdown among Scotland's footballing professionals, the country's elite league has been either unable or unwilling to bring the break back.