SCOTLAND manager Alex McLeish's preparations for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy received a boost last night - but not without his employers coming in for criticism.
League chiefs have condemned the Scottish Football Association for declining to meet the costs of postponing two matches on the weekend before the Hampden Park clash.
The games involving Celtic, who were due to host Falkirk, and Rangers, who were
scheduled to visit St Mirren, on the weekend of November 10-11 were put back at the SFA's behest.
But Scottish Premier League officials have been dismayed by an SFA refusal to finance the switch, which will see all four clubs incur costs for accepting the postponements.
SFA chief executive Gordon Smith approached the SPL to seek the postponements after Scotland manager McLeish suggested it would benefit the national team for the Old Firm stars to be allowed the weekend off after a hectic run of games.
But SPL executive chairman Lex Gold has been unhappy with the SFA's attitude towards finding a solution to suit all parties, and 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."
Both postponed games will be rearranged "in due course", the SPL confirmed.
Victory against the world champions would assure Scotland of a place in next summer's finals, but defeat would end their qualification hopes. A draw would only suffice if France were to lose to Ukraine four days later.
The full article contains 257 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
