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SPL season will not be extended for Gers

06/05/2008

The Scottish Premier League season will not be extended with the Scottish Cup Final scheduled to go ahead on May 24th despite Rangers' complaints of fixture congestion.

Rangers had asked for the postponement of Saturday's match with Dundee Utd so they could have a week to prepare for the final of the Uefa Cup against Zenit St Petersburg but will now be faced with seven games in only 18 days as they chase a quadruple.

The Scottish FA met with the SPL to discuss the fixtures but an agreement could not be reached and the original fixture list stands.

Lex Gold executive chairman of the SPL said all the dates had been reviewed, including the Scottish Cup final.

"Given the stage we have now reached in our competition, both in terms of the title chase and in relation to the European places, it is not possible to modify the closing date of the season without placing at serious risk the fairness to all of our competition," he added.

The news has led Gers' chairman Sir David Murray to "laugh" at the decision.

"What has happened here is footballing authorities not being proactive in their assistance but only at this late stage by being reactive through embarrassment," he said.

The decision means that the league season will still end on May 22nd.