Fixture Switch Reaction Shocks SPFL

Photo by Jeff Holmes League bosses reacted with surprise to complaints that Rangers were being handed an unfair advantage over the rescheduling of their final Scottish Championship match - but Ibrox boss Stuart McCall fully understood the protests from Hibernian. Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster warned the Scottish Professional Football League it was in danger of undermining "sporting integrity" after Rangers' trip to Tynecastle was moved to May 3 - 24 hours after Hibs close their regular season at Falkirk. With Rangers only a point ahead of Hibs in second place with three games left, following their 1-1 draw at Livingston, the race for runners-up spot and one less play-off obstacle looks set to go to the wire. Hearts owner Ann Budge backed her city rivals' concerns over the fairness of the situation, warning the SPFL was leaving Scottish football open to "unsavoury accusations", while also hitting out at the league for giving just 17 days' notice to supporters to move the match for live television. And McCall said later: "First and foremost we have not asked for the game to be changed but if Hibs are complaining then rightly so. I would be doing exactly the same. "I think every game on the last day of the season should be played at the same time. "Maybe it will be the case that the other games are moved to the Sunday. It's nothing to do with us but if I were in their position I would be annoyed as well." McCall's understanding was in stark contrast to the SPFL position. A league statement read: "On this weekend, the Hearts v Rangers match is scheduled for Sunday 3 May to be broadcast on television and it is not clear to us why this has caused so much surprise. This is a key game in the Championship season and will inevitably attract huge interest from fans around the world. "It is unreasonable to expect all Championship fixtures that weekend to move to the Sunday when a number of them will be unaffected by the Hearts v Rangers tie. However, as a result of this fixture, all Championship clubs have been invited to submit a request should they wish to move games to the Sunday. "To date, the only feedback we have received is from one Championship club which has asked for its match to remain scheduled for the Saturday. "Whilst we regret any inconvenience to supporters caused by rescheduled fixtures, the circumstances surrounding the matches on the weekend of 2/3 May are in no way unusual." However, Budge fundamentally disagreed. She said earlier: "It is no wonder that clubs are finding it harder and harder to gain support from their fans when their interests can be so blatantly disregarded, especially at such short notice."