Rangers chief Bain slams SPL after season is extended by just four days

The SPL have agreed to extend the league season by four days to May 22 if Rangers beat Fiorentina in their European semi-final.

But Bain stressed that was not a long enough extension to satisfy Rangers, and he urged league chiefs to put back the final round of SPL games to May 27 to avoid squeezing fixtures into a short space of time.

SPL chairman Lex Gold had predicted Rangers' angry response, and Bain provided it.

Should they beat Fiorentina to reach the May 14 UEFA Cup final, Rangers will have to play two potentially crucial SPL games plus the Scottish Cup final in five days at the end of their campaign.

Bain also revealed dismay that Rangers would have to play three games in seven days in the week prior to the European final.

When Celtic reached the 2003 UEFA Cup final, a fixture reshuffle meant they were afforded a free week before the final to aid with their preparation.

The rescheduling will force Rangers to play four league games in nine days if they bow out to Fiorentina, to ensure the season ends on May 18.

Bain told the club's official website: "We as a club are really bitterly disappointed in the SPL on all fronts.

"It is hardly the best preparation in the lead-up to the UEFA Cup final - if we get there - to play Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday in advance of that.

"So I don't see what the SPL have done for Rangers in terms of aiding them in European competition. They have simply accommodated a fixture.

"It's all very well for the SPL to go on about Rangers' co-efficient and how it's great for Scottish football but they are doing nothing to assist us."

Bain claimed there was "no sporting integrity" in the SPL's decision to make Rangers play SPL games on May 10, 13, 15 and 18 if their European dream comes to an end against Fiorentina.

He stated it was "baffling" that the SPL would only consider extending the season if Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final.

Rangers were left with fixtures against Motherwell and St Mirren to fit into their busy schedule, and Bain wants the players to be given more time between matches than the SPL are prepared to allocate.

He added: "Why is the season simply not extended to conclude on May 27 regardless?"

The SPL unveiled separate plans for the final weeks of the season today: one which will be implemented if Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final, and the other for if Fiorentina knock them out.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell also expressed disillusionment at the SPL's planning, but for different reasons.

Lawwell accused league officials of compromising the "integrity" of the competition by agreeing to extend the season at this late stage.

Lawwell said: "We do not want to disadvantage Rangers should they reach the UEFA Cup final, but we are extremely disappointed and concerned at the manner of the decision-making process - which was done without consultation with the clubs or the SPL board - and the effects on the integrity of the competition.

"In addition, this decision, which will cause a great deal of inconvenience to our supporters and to five other clubs, will also mean that Celtic would have a gap of 11 days before playing our final league fixture.

"A number of our key first-team players are also due to go on international duty immediately after our scheduled final league game against Dundee United on Sunday, May 18.

"In principle we accept fixture flexibility. However, the league must not be compromised by changing the rules during the course of the competition and these decisions should not be made on an ad hoc basis.

"Therefore, we oppose the decision and feel, in fact, that it has compromised the integrity of the competition."

The SPL insisted they had no choice but to agree to extend the season if Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final.

SPL chairman Gold, who composed the schedules with secretary Iain Blair, expected complaints.

Gold said Rangers had not asked for an extension and added: "We have had phone calls from some clubs saying 'well done'.

"We have had phone calls from some clubs complaining they may lose out financially if the last game is midweek.

"I would expect Rangers to be unhappy about the extension not being longer.

"If we were to extend beyond the Scottish Cup final we would be having the bulk of our clubs in the top six waiting 17 days for a game. In terms of the integrity of the competition, that is not acceptable.

"Rangers are also going to be unhappy because of the number of games they have to play if they don't reach the final.

"Celtic have made it clear through the press that they expect the season to be completed before May 18.

"We have tried to be fair to the integrity of the competition, fair to our clubs and fair to the fans."

As well as the top six, who would play their final games on May 22 rather than May 18, lowly St Mirren would also have a three-day extension to their campaign should Rangers beat Fiorentina, with their home game against Walter Smith's men pencilled in for Tuesday, May 20.

Saints chairman Stewart Gilmour has previously stated that his players planned to go on holiday immediately after their season, which had been due to end on May 17, but those plans may need to be revised.