9 Feb 2009Burley hoping for change to start of SPL season

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

The scheduled start of the 2009-10 Scottish Premier League (SPL) season could be changed in order to give the national side more time to prepare for a World Cup qualifying match against Norway.

Scotland manager George Burley has criticised the SPL for scheduling its first game of the new campaign on August 8th, four days before the international fixture in Oslo.

However, the former Southampton boss said that there is a possibility for negotiations on the matter with the league authorities.

Speaking at a press conference, Burley said that SPL directors have indicated "that they are willing to have a chat".

He added: "I'll be looking for the first game of the season on the 8th to be cancelled, to give us six days' preparation for the Norway game, which I don't think is too big an ask."

Scotland are currently second in their 2010 World Cup qualifying group.

The national side will travel to Amsterdam to play The Netherlands in March and host Iceland in Glasgow at the beginning of April before the match against Norway in the summer.

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