Motherwell boss Graham Alexander has backed the SPFL's decision to bring the winter break forward, but is disappointed that his side are being made to play in front of 500 fans against Livingston on Boxing Day.
But Alexander says although it's a logistical nightmare and a financial hit for Motherwell, he says clubs like Celtic who have much bigger crowds are going to be hit harder, and says authorities need to draw a line.
He said: "We didn't want to play in front of just 500, we made our opinions heard, but it's for one game - hopefully - and when we get back in to January, fingers crossed that the next there weeks will give people the evidence to have confidence in bringing supporters back to the stadiums and we can continue to play football.
"It's a big part of a lot of our lives, but I wouldn't say it's the most important thing - people's health does come before that.
"I don't see the sense in that, just coming up with a number, for who? Five hundred for us is I don't know what percentage of our crowd, of our stadium, but 500 for Celtic is completely different.
"It might be the same number, but it's a completely different relevance for each club.
"I think things like that undermine other messages that are evidence-based, and thought out, and there's an idea behind the decision.
"Just throwing a number... you have to draw a line, that for me weakens any other argument you come up with, and why you're making decisions. I think that's decision-making based on no evidence at all and no understanding of the contrast between each club."
Alexander does reckon the decision to bring the winter break forward to December 27 from January 3 makes sense, however.
He said: "I think it's a common sense decision to bring it forward.
"We're a little bit disappointed that we're playing on Sunday in front of 500 fans - certainly in my time we've seen the contrast between no supporters and a full Fir Park, and there's a massive difference for us - they're an important part of everything we do at the club.
"So to not have them here in their numbers is disappointing, but we have to understand the scenario we're in at the moment.
"But I thought bringing the break forward was the only decision to make, to be honest.
"There was no point, with what's going on with this new variant, just ploughing through for the sake of another two or three games.
"The opportunity was there, the will was there from most of the clubs, so I think that was the right decision.
"I think fixture schedules should come after people's welfare, so that has to be at the forefront of everyone's minds, but we have to be quite fluid with our planning and what's happening, because you don't know what's around the corner.
"I think we have to be prepared for any eventuality; the fixture list, the end of the season, might change, and all that sort of stuff, so we have to be ready for it, prepared for it as much as we can be, and understand why these decisions are being made, and show the patience and understanding to work with them.
"Ultimately we live in a different world at the moment and we have to change the way we live sometimes.
"But fingers crossed that we can get fans back in January. We've seen the difference when the crowds are here and certainly for us, the supporters play a massive part in everything we do here - we're a fan-owned club."
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