SPL willing to discuss winter break

The Scottish Premier League have declared themselves open to the idea of resurrecting a winter break.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith is reportedly seeking talks with the SPL and Scottish Football League aimed at changing the structure of the season.

Smith, who has recently been championing summer football, has long argued for a four-week January shutdown.

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster has also said he appreciates the benefits of such a break but insists something would have to give in a congested calendar.

An SPL spokesman said: "We're obviously aware of Gordon's views about winter breaks and summer football.

"Neil has made it clear that a winter break is a good idea.

"Trying to fit all the fixtures in - 10 months of fixtures - into eight or nine months is difficult given all the other pressures.

"So if there's an opportunity to sit down then of course we'd be happy to do that."

The SPL spokesman added: "We've got a relatively new chief executive here and a new chairman and they're not going to rule anything in or out.

"I think it's important though we don't make broad strategic decisions as a knee-jerk reaction to what is - by all accounts - the worst winter in 30 years.

"When we're discussing league structure, that's a much broader discussion than purely slotting in a winter break.

"You have to look at the impact that's going to have on quality of players and teams, the impact it's going to have on our clubs in Europe, the impact it's going to have on attendances, on commercial revenues, broadcasting revenues."