Mark Guidi responds as Ross County fine mooted with SPFL message after Rangers postponement
Mark Guidi has responded to suggestions that Ross County should be fined for being unable to travel to their clash with Rangers with a new message to the SPFL.
The Light Blues clash with Derek Adams’ side on Wednesday (27 December) was called off after storms in Scotland meant that Ross County were unable to safely make the trip to Ibrox to fulfil the fixture against the Gers.
While many, including Sunday Mail chief football writer Guidi, have agreed the away side should have travelled down the night before the game, he has slammed suggestions that they should be fined and instead urged the SPFL to alter kick-off times in the winter.
Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show (27 December, 34:15) he said: “I don’t know what the rules and regulations are for the SPFL in terms of travelling, I don’t think you can force a club to come down and pay for hotel accommodation so I think it’s just a freak in terms of the weather.
“I think Rangers will be well within their rights to make a formal complaint to the SPFL about what’s happened, should they wish to go down that road. But ultimately, there’s nothing they can do now, the game is off.
“Had it been an afternoon kick-off they’d been down last night. Ultimately, it’s far from ideal, but maybe something the SPFL could look at this time of the year, not that it’s going to make a huge difference but, kick-off in the afternoon.
“Kick-off in daylight, let the fans travel in daylight, you’re then trying to get home at 17:00, rather than 22:30 so wee things like that maybe would see if there’s a way of making it better for all supporters.”
Solve all problems
It does seem ridiculous that games over the festive period haven’t been able to be played in the daylight to ensure that they can go ahead, especially considering the impact of the recent storm in Scotland.
As Guidi suggested, moving the kick-off time forward would have forced Ross County into making the trip down to Glasgow the night before the game and would have therefore ensured that the clash on Wednesday night was able to be completed.
Suggestions that Ross County should be fined for failing to make their way to Ibrox seem ridiculous considering just how dangerous the weather conditions were in Scotland on Wednesday, but the SPFL surely have to act to stop this happening again.
Rangers have been robbed of the opportunity to reclaim the top spot in the Premiership against Celtic during their Old Firm clash because of factors entirely out of their control. This could be defining in the title race and it can’t be allowed to become a regular occurrence.
In other Rangers news, Scott Burns has offered his verdict on the Boxing Day links between the Gers and Kevin van Veen