A hat-trick of Premiership clubs are staring into a financially blackhole after the unveiling of next season’s SPFL fixtures.
Hamilton Accies, Motherwell and Partick Thistle are all in line to miss out on vital cash after discovering they will host the Old Firm at least one time fewer than their top-flight rivals.
In previous seasons that have seen Celtic and Rangers in the league, other clubs have historically hosted one team once and the other twice in the pre-split fixtures, with the reverse taking place the following season.
Read more: Celtic to host Rangers in September as full Premiership fixtures for 2016/17 are released
However, this pattern does not follow in the fixtures that were announced by the SPFL on Friday morning.
While Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dundee and Hearts will host the two Glasgow clubs twice each, Accies, Well and Thistle will only welcome Rangers and Celtic once apiece.
To make matters worse for Hamilton, both their home fixtures against the giants are played in consecutive weeks in the middle of December.
Clubs are furious both from a footballing perspective and on a financial basis as well.
It is believed that missing out on that third home Old Firm game could eat into Motherwell’s budget by an estimated £150,000, while Firhill bosses have have stuck a figure of £120,000 on it, and are now demanding compensation from the SPFL.
A statement from Partick Thistle read: “The Board of Partick Thistle FC has expressed anger and frustration at the fixture list for season 2016/17 announced by the SPFL earlier today, which will put the Club and two other Premiership sides at a sporting and financial disadvantage in the forthcoming season.
“This season we, Motherwell and Hamilton have been handed only two Old Firm games at home whilst Dundee, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hearts have four home games. That means an expected loss in revenues for the Club of £120,000 before a ball is even kicked, whilst other clubs will get an unexpected bonus of a similar figure.
“Having had no communication from the SPFL explaining these changes prior to this morning’s announcement, Partick Thistle intends to seek compensation from the SPFL for all clubs concerned or that they reconsider the fixture list to ensure a level playing field for all.”
Writing on Twitter, Motherwell chief operating officer Alan Burrows said: “I’m not normally one to be critical – but I have to say, I’m disappointed with the SPFL fixtures this morning.
“Our fans are being asked to travel to both Inverness and R. County in a midweek, one being three days after Christmas, which makes little sense to me.
“In addition, we only have two home ‘Old Firm’ games, whereas some of our nearest competitors have four.
“From a sporting and financial point of view, that puts Motherwell at a real disadvantage.
“Previously, it was worked out that teams would have x2 vs Celtic and x1 vs Rangers (or vice versa) prior to the split, which meant everyone was in the same boat on and off the field. Hugely disappointed.”
On the opening day of the campaign on August 6, champions Celtic will kick-off their fifth consecutive title defence away to Hearts at Tynecastle, while Mark Warburton’s Rangers will play their first match in the Premiership at home to Hamilton.
The first Old Firm game is scheduled in for Saturday September 10 at Parkhead.
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