Scotland's top flight are considering an emergency plan to bring back the ‘five substitutes’ rule for the second half of the season amid fears that Covid could wreak havoc with the remaining fixture list.
Record Sport understands the idea has been proposed by anxious SPFL bosses as concerns grow over the potential for soaring infection rates to cause postponement carnage when the Premiership comes back out of cold storage later this month.
A raft of call-offs similar to that seen across the English game over the festive period would lead to a fixture pile up towards the end of the campaign - and leave players facing massive workloads with the increased risk of injuries and burn out.
To help combat the potential threat posed by coronavirus break-outs, league chief executive Neil Doncaster has now opened consultation with all top 12 clubs over the possible re-introducing of an increased number of subs, which was rolled out last season when football was re-started after the initial lock-down.
The clubs have been asked to respond no later than next Monday - one week before the campaign comes back out of cold storage when Celtic are scheduled to take on Hibs at Parkhead.
Doncaster has already had to rubber-stamp a series of fixture changes - including New Year derbies in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee - after the Premiership opted to bring the winter shut down forward following the government’s decision to limit crowds to 500..
It is hoped that Scotland’s grounds will be operating back at full capacity after the current circuit-breaker ends on January 16 but, as yet, there has been no confirmation from Holyrood officials that mass gatherings will indeed be given the green light in time for the top flight’s return.
In fact, national clinical director Jason Leitch appeared to hint during a radio interview yesterday that big events may have to be put on hold until the spring, heightening concerns that the blockbuster games which were called off over Christmas and New Year may yet have to go ahead in front of hugely reduced capacities.
