MANAGERS phoning the football authorities to grumble is fairly commonplace.

Their wives? Not so much. But officials from the Scottish Premier League almost had to field a call from Mrs Danny Lennon when she learned of her husband's festive commitments. The just-published fixture list stated that St Mirren would be sent north to face Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Boxing Day for the second time in three seasons.

Lennon last time took the team to Inverness on Christmas Day for an overnight stay ahead of the game. St Mirren's 2-1 victory seemed to justify that decision but this time they have allowed the players to spend Christmas with their families before driving up the A9 today.

"I was lying on a beach in Mexico, on holiday in Cancun with my wife when the fixtures were released," said Lennon, who this afternoon will be without suspended duo Jim Goodwin and Marc McAusland. "The first one we looked for was Boxing Day – so she was in a bad mood right away. She was ready to phone up the SPL there and then.

"Seriously, our partners are all very understanding. But it's difficult. It's not rocket science when you've got two teams up that way and everyone wants to spend time with their loved ones at this time of year. We've got a job to do and we'll get on with it, but it doesn't make sense. I don't think new year is as big as it was years ago but I thought the Christmas fixtures could have been fairer. You've also got to take the fans into account. Finances are already tight and the credit card is at the limit.

"Christmas is all about families and we've got a group of players with young families. There was nothing worse than forcing them to leave their Christmas dinner early. We went up and got the job done but with the luxury coaches and the fact we've done Ross County and Aberdeen on the same day this season we thought we'd go up on the day. I know psychologically my players will be prepared knowing they've spent Christmas with their loved ones, so I know we'll get a lot back in return on Boxing Day."

David van Zanten admitted that missing Christmas Day with his family two years ago did not make him a popular man, his mood made worse when he arrived in Inverness only to discover he was not playing.

"It was a damp squib," said the defender. "We met up at three o'clock on Christmas Day, travelled up and had our dinner together up there. Once the game came round we forgot about all that but it's not ideal. I've got two kids and it's not nice having to leave them at Christmas, and [being] dropped was the worst present I've ever had."

Lennon, meanwhile, hopes to extend Paul Dummett's loan from Newcastle United until the end of the season and is also close to securing a loan deal for midfielder Conor Newton, also of Newcastle.

Defenders Graeme Shinnie and Josh Meekings, meanwhile, will be at Inverness Caledonian Thistle until May 2015 after signing two-year contract extensions.

Manager Terry Butcher said: "I am delighted. They have performed brilliantly for the first team and thoroughly deserve new contracts. I am optimistic of other news of extensions in the near future."