PRAISE the Lord, hallelujah, glory be to your chosen deity. The post-split fixtures have been announced. Not since Moses ascended Mount Sinai after three months wandering the desert has a proclamation been so eagerly awaited, or have more people been so awe-struck to see something finally set in stone.

Of course, everyone knew already that champions-elect Celtic and Rangers would not be meeting in the first round of games.

That commandment seems to have come from an altogether earthlier, if seemingly as powerful, source.

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Questions must be asked of the SPFL about how long it took to cobble together five rounds of fixtures, not least of all because of the inconvenience to supporters. Scottish Premiership clubs, unlike many others across Europe, still rely heavily on gate receipts as a main source of income, and should be careful about how often they bite the hand that feeds them.

But in this case, their own hands may have been tied by considerations from Police Scotland, who presumably had reservations about allowing a so-called ‘league decider’ to take place between Glasgow’s big two. Leaving aside the fact the match wouldn’t be a league decider at all, but a potential confirmation of Celtic’s inevitable coronation as champions, those fears stem from the infamous clash of 1999 when all hell broke loose at Celtic Park as Rangers wrapped up the title with a 3-0 win.

Referee Hugh Dallas’s head – and that evening, his windows – were panned in, and consequently all clashes between the two sides have been scheduled to reduce the chances of anything meaningful riding on the game.

Maybe I’m giving the SPFL too much credit, but if it really was only up to them, then wouldn’t they want a potential ‘league decider’ between the two biggest sides in the country? From a commercial standpoint, given we are forever being told that the Old Firm fixture sells our game, then it would be obvious to have the fixture next weekend. If you were an official from any other league body and had the chance to hand-pick the schedule as you approach the business-end of the season, then who would pass up such an opportunity to potentially create such huge interest in their game? But this is Scotland, and the fear of what has happened in the now dim and distant past meant that was never a possibility.

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That match in 1999 was now almost 19 years ago, but in a similar way to how alcohol is still banned in Scottish grounds because of the riot at the Scottish Cup final of 1980, fans are still being punished for the misdemeanours of the past. In some ways, that is understandable, and it is perfectly reasonable for Police Scotland to use precedent when looking to reduce the potential for public disorder or their resources being unduly stretched. But if we are looking to the past to guide us, then surely the most recent example of such a potentially ‘powderkeg’ fixture between the sides would be the fairest place to start?

It shouldn’t be forgotten that in 2012, Celtic were so far ahead that they travelled to Ibrox in March prior to the split with a chance to wrap up the title. Rangers prevented that from happening with a 3-2 win, but I don’t remember riots in the streets or the world falling off its axis.

Former Police Chief Les Gray rather tied himself in knots when putting forward the argument that the fixture should be put back. His argument was, and I quote; “The last few games have been brilliant to watch, a great spectacle and people have behaved themselves so why do we want to endanger that?” I may well be naïve in giving football supporters the benefit of the doubt, but does that not sound more like a supporting argument for the fixture to go ahead?

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There is a grievance here too from the perspective of Aberdeen and Hibs, fighting it out with Rangers for second place. How is it fair their rivals should receive special dispensation to play Celtic when they ostensibly have nothing to play for?

The only surprise to me is that the fixture wasn’t put back further. Should Celtic fail to pick up the win they require against Hibs next week - hardly outside the realms of possibility - then the SPFL may get what they didn’t want all along. God help us, eh?

AND ANOTHER THING

IT was wonderful to speak to Gerry Britton, albeit in sad circumstances, as he recalled memories of the great John Lambie following his death during the week.

As beloved as his larger-than-life character was, there was clearly substance to him as a coach who knew how to get the best out of his players.

How good it is to see that two of his former clubs, Partick Thistle and Hamilton, will play each other next week. It should be an emotional occasion that does the man justice.