SPL confirm August start date for 2010-11 season

The Scottish Premier League have confirmed the 2010-11 Clydesdale Bank Premier League season will kick off on August 14.

The SPL considered three possible start dates, which included July 31 and August 7, before settling on the later of the three.

New chief executive Neil Doncaster provided a detailed rationale for the decision.

Doncaster wrote in his blog on www.scotprem.com: "Because of the very public disagreement over the start date for season 2009-10, it is more important than ever to be transparent about why the SPL has chosen August 14 as the start date for season 2010-11."

Doncaster explained that due to the World Cup, the start date for next season became a straight choice between August 7 and 14.

He wrote: "Some clubs were in favour of an August 7 start date. Their reasons were that an earlier start date gave the SPL maximum impact and would enable clubs to bring in cash slightly earlier. It would also mean one less midweek fixture later in the season."

Doncaster said the SPL decided that while fewer clubs would benefit from an August 14 start date, they would do so by a much more significant amount than the majority of teams would have from an August 7 start date.

He added: "On balance, the SPL board took the view that, in this instance, a August 14 start date should be chosen."

Doncaster also ruled out a re-introduction of a winter break, which he accepts would be of benefit to players and pitches.

He said: "Unfortunately, UEFA have decreed that leagues cannot schedule midweek fixture cards against Champions League or Europa League fixtures.

"Together, with the fixture congestion caused by various cup games and replays, and once every two years a World Cup or European Championships, there just is not the scope to fit a winter break into the fixture calendar."

He added: "The SPL have been working harder than ever on our fixture system in recent seasons.

"And our clubs have indicated their satisfaction with the improvements that we have made. Even supporters have acknowledged this.

"When this season's fixtures were published, we only received one e-mail of complaint - a marked change from previous seasons.

"Setting fixtures remains an inexact science, though.

"What is important in every decision made by the SPL board is that we take account of the concerns and interests of all of our clubs. "In setting August 14 as the start date for season 2010/2011, I am totally confident that this has happened."