Baikie urges league to introduce winter break for Juniors

Nov 26 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

DAVE BAIKIE has urged Junior football bosses to look at bringing a winter break into the game to avoid fixture chaos after seeing every single game in West Lothian washed out as a result of wet weather.

The Linlithgow Rose boss reckons the introduction of a six-week winter break and the cutting back on some of the numerous cup competitions would breathe new life into the Junior ranks while also preventing the traditional spate of postponements at this time of year.

Rose and county neighbours Bathgate and Whitburn were all handed a free weekend after the weather claimed all but one of the scheduled Super League fixtures as casualties.

And Baikie believes a winter shutdown is the answer but he also feels the number of cup competitions in the Junior game needs to be looked at.

He said: “It was disappointing to see our game at the weekend called off but we knew in advance it was a real possibility as the drainage at Whitburn isn’t the best.

“I’m not sure summer football is the answer as many players don’t have the flexibility within their family lives trying to juggle holidays in the summer.

“But I think introducing a winter break could be something that needs looked at.

“A break of six weeks to two months would help a lot and avoid rain and frost ruling out so many games at this time of year.

“I also feel there are too many games in the Juniors and we have too many cup competitions.

“If you win the league you are in the hat for the Senior Scottish Cup while you are still involved in the Junior Scottish Cup, the League Cup, the East of Scotland Cup and the Fife and Lothians Cup – while playing leagues game too.

“If you are involved with a successful side then you end up playing a lot of games and that can put a lot of stress on your squad.

“Unfortunately it is the Junior sides who are not quite so successful who want to play in so many competitions to have more chances, but that hinders the more successful clubs as a direct result.

“Our last game at the end of last season was on June 14, which is almost summer football in itself.”

Rose have only lost one Super League match this season but draws have cost them dearly, with five shared matches leaving them trailing leaders Bo’ness United by 12 points.

This weekend though Rose are on Emirates Scottish Cup duty where they will meet a side they met, and defeated, in the final in 2007.

“We are playing Kelty Hearts on Saturday and that will be a big game for us,” admitted Baikie.

“It is the Junior Scottish Cup, which is the biggest cup we can win and to add a bit of spice to things it is Rose and Kelty, who met in the final of the same competition in 2007.

“Gordon Herd and Tommy Coyne are still a few weeks away from fitness and this weekend comes too soon for them but maybe there will be a place on the bench for another of our injured players in Danny Smith.”