6 Aug 2009Motherwell chairman calls for summer football move

Football Clubs News | Football Leagues/ Association and Governance | Football Supporters News

More football fans would turn up at stadiums to watch Scottish football if the sport was played during the summer rather than the winter months, according to the chairman of Motherwell.

Jim Boyle has argued that playing through the wind and rain does not only have implications on stadium capacity, but also makes it harder for Scottish clubs to qualify for European competitions.

Motherwell are currently preparing for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest, with the Romanians winning the first leg 3-0 on home soil.

Boyle said: "We live in the northern part of Europe. We're not Spain or Italy. Purely from a fan's point of view, you can't argue with the fact that it is a much more enjoyable experience in the summer.

"And you're more likely to attend on a balmy evening rather than when it's snowing or windy - it's a no-brainer."

He added that the 1,500 fans expected to watch the game is far more than if the fixture was played in December.

Meanwhile, many foreign teams have already begun their current league campaigns, ensuring that they are more match-sharp at this point of the year.

Written by Terry Mitchell

© Copyright