Scotland handed Old Firm boost

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The SPL have called off Celtic's home match against Falkirk on November 10, and Rangers' fixture at St Mirren on November 11, and both games will be rearranged for future dates.

Scotland manager McLeish had called for both clubs, from which he draws a significant number of his squad and first-choice line-up, to be given a free weekend.

Scotland face Italy on November 17 at Hampden, and the Old Firm players were facing hectic schedules in the run-up to the game.

Each manager from the four clubs involved agreed to the postponement. Following a meeting of the SPL board in Glasgow it was decided, for the sake of the national team, to accept the Scottish Football Association's formal request to call off both fixtures.

It was clear, however, that there was some reluctance on the SPL's part to postpone the games. And in a statement released on Tuesday night, SPL executive chairman Lex Gold revealed the SFA had declined to make a financial contribution to the costs involved in rearranging the games.

Gold said: "It is a matter of considerable disappointment that the SFA has refused to help defray the costs which will be incurred by our clubs."

Following McLeish's request, the SPL had always looked certain to show their support to the Scotland manager. However a mountain of issues involved in altering the fixture schedule had to be taken into consideration.

Gold said: "Postponing games at short notice is fraught with fairness, inconvenience, broadcasting and cost implications. We recognise, in particular, that this decision will inconvenience many fans, thousands of whom have already made travel arrangements to attend the matches.

"Our wish is to do all we can to support the efforts of the Scotland team at a critical point and trust the fans will understand the exceptional circumstances which led us to postpone the matches in question. I would also like to place on record my thanks to the clubs involved for their constructive approach and to our broadcasting partners, Setanta Sports, for their support."