Premiership: Kilmarnock echo Hearts frustration over post-split fixtures
Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership
Kilmarnock have echoed Hearts' frustrations over the Premiership's post-split fixtures.
Both clubs will make a third visit to Rangers before the end of the season because of an imbalance in the system.
Kilmarnock said they shared their fans' frustration while thanking them for their magnificent support.
Hearts said ending up with 18 home and 20 away games was "a consequence of the inherently imbalanced system that the SPFL clubs have elected to operate".
The Scottish top flight has split in two after 33 rounds of fixtures since season 2000-01.
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If Kilmarnock make it six league wins in a row at Hamilton on Saturday, Steve Clarke's in-form side will go into the split four points behind Hibs.
In a statement, the Ayrshire club expressed its disappointment over the post-split fixtures.
'Causes an imbalance'
"As has already been alluded to there is always the possibility of an imbalance of home and away fixtures," it said.
"This year we see a relative balance being struck with the reallocation of additional home matches to another team in the league, which ultimately results in Kilmarnock FC facing three trips to Ibrox with Rangers having made only one trip to Rugby Park.
"While we share the frustration of our supporters at this outcome, we hope you will continue to provide the magnificent backing you have shown to our team over the course of the season.
"While an additional visit by Rangers would naturally provide a boost in terms of income, the passion, ambition and focus of everyone at the club remains on continuing to grow our home crowds."
Hearts also registered their disappointment over the nature of the post-split fixtures.
"In an ideal world, each team would complete 19 home and 19 away league fixtures per season," the club said. "Due to the structure of the league, however, this is not always possible.
"Depending upon which teams are in the top and bottom sections of the split, the situation can arise which causes an imbalance. While unacceptable, it is felt to be the "least unacceptable" option.
"Whilst the club is disappointed about this situation, it is a consequence of the inherently imbalanced system that the SPFL clubs have elected to operate."
The Scottish Professional Football League "thanked supporters for their patience" when it released its post-split fixture schedule on Wednesday.
It added: "Working with the 12 clubs, Police Scotland and our broadcast partners to produce a set of fixtures that meets everyone's requirements can often be a complex and time-consuming process, but fans can now look forward to an exciting conclusion to the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign."
Scottish Premiership post-split fixtures
Saturday 21 April
Hibernian v Celtic
Kilmarnock v Aberdeen
Dundee v St Johnstone
Partick Thistle v Hamilton Accies
Ross County v Motherwell
Sunday 22 April
Rangers v Hearts
Friday 27 April
Aberdeen v Hearts
Saturday 28 April
Hibernian v Kilmarnock
Hamilton Accies v Ross County
Motherwell v Dundee
St Johnstone v Partick Thistle
Sunday 29 April
Celtic v Rangers
Friday 4 May
Partick Thistle v Ross County
Saturday 5 May
Aberdeen v Hibernian
Rangers v Kilmarnock
Dundee v Hamilton Accies
Motherwell v St Johnstone
Sunday 6 May
Hearts v Celtic
Tuesday 8 May
Aberdeen v Rangers
Hamilton Accies v St Johnstone
Partick Thistle v Motherwell
Ross County v Dundee
Wednesday 9 May
Celtic v Kilmarnock
Hearts v Hibernian
Saturday 12 May
Dundee v Partick Thistle
Motherwell v Hamilton Accies
St Johnstone v Ross County
Sunday 13 May
Celtic v Aberdeen
Hibernian v Rangers
Kilmarnock v Hearts
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Why? Rangers are getting a 19/19 split.
The governing body should compensate Hearts and Killie for the loss of gate money followed by an apology as their league set up is farcical.
16/18 team top league & summer football please.
The weather here is c**p.
Scottish teams should play less football and concentrate on doing it better. Playing less will ensure pitches recover because you can't play good football on rubbish pitches. The problem is the small clubs can't see past the end of the week and their fixtures with the two big Glasgow clubs. Scottish football needs a long term vision.
The 12 team league with a split is just sheer embarrassment.
An 18 team league with 34 games is needed, perfectly feasible.
However SKY/BT will not accept only have 2 OF games per season, thats the be all and end all.
Lennon was moaning about having to go to Ibrox and got that taken away.....theres alot of corruption about to.
Needs stripped back
Aye we have our moans and the pandering to the old firm makes you sick but I would rather watch Hamilton and Motherwell go at it on a freezing wet day than some rubbish like Man City v Stoke. Scottish football has its issues, but heart and soul isn't one of them.
English football sold its soul and now the Devil wants his dosh back.
Summer football has the potential to be a money maker for us. With the EPL/LaLiga off at that time SPL fixtures would get more viewing figured which could allow a better TV deal, added to the fact I’d rather go watch a game in decent weather on a Wednesday evening rather it being freezing. 2 leagues of 18 3 up 3 down play each other twice, simple
Season tickets are sold on a 'guarantee' of a number of home games, minimum 19 sometimes 20 (pre-season friendly) etc, yet these fans will not have had that....
Since the SPFL IS the member clubs it's up to the to vote on something that's better than the current system. Stop whining and do something about it Hearts, Killie etc.
What we need to watch is whether the two, ahem, ‘Glasgow giants’ get preferential treatment or whether, over time, they face the same vaguaries as everyone else.
I wouldn’t be surprised if other clubs had to accept being shafted but Celtic and The Rangers always seemed to get a good deal.
Not likely, Rangers are skint, they need every penny they can get. They are living off of soft loans made to them by the directors trying to run them.
Still follow fitba but have not been to a league game for 5 years and won't be going back anytime soon .We voted for a 16 or 18 team league , not this cack , I and many others still boycott the league and will continue to do so as the season is over before Chrimbo in a bigger league the challenge might last until March .