We can't have nine games in December, says Thistle boss
Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald will fight against a nine-game December if Sunday's match against Hearts at Tynecastle is postponed.
Last updated 17th Nov 2017
The Gorgie club await a final decision on safety checks at their redeveloped stadium ahead of the Ladbrokes Premiership encounter
Thistle were one of three clubs who agreed to reverse their fixtures against Hearts earlier in the season to allow refurbishment of their main stand, which was originally set to be ready in early September.
If this weekend's match does not get the green light, Archibald is worried that it will be rearranged for next month, when the Jags already have eight fixtures, and would look to have it played after the winter break.
He said: "At the moment, we prepare as if the game goes ahead. It is important that the game goes ahead.
"We have only gone one game in November and we have played it so it is important we get another game.
"Hearts came to us and asked for the (earlier) game to be changed.
"It was a hard decision for us, we wanted to help Hearts but it gave us three tough away games in November.
"The last thing we want is for the game to be off and give us nine games in December.
"We haven't got a big enough squad to deal with that. "We are not a Premier League club where you have 26 players to choose from.
"At the moment we have a few injuries as well and we don't want to take on an extra game in December.
"We have done Hearts a favour and that's what we want in the game in Scotland. We want the best for Scottish football.
"But it can't be a problem where it is affecting us. We can't take a ninth game in December, we couldn't handle that.
"I don't think it is fair to be asked to play a ninth game in December when we have done someone else a favour.
"To ask our fans to pay for nine games in December is a big ask as well.'