Righteous indignation characterised Leeann Dempster's react ion yesterday as the Hibs chief executive offered analysis of the hapless way the organisation of fixtures for the last weekend of the SPFL Championship had been managed.

Clearly irked by a ham-fisted attempt to blame her club for not having proposed moving their own game in response to the original decision to isolate the Hearts v Rangers match for television purposes, she said the organising body had also risked generating bad feeling between member clubs and questioned how the competition is being run.

Dempster dismissed any conspiracy theory about decisions having been made in order to favour any other team, ahead of yesterday's belated decision to revise the programme and play all the matches at the same time, in keeping with traditional and standard practice, but that was as much leeway as she was offering.

"I don't know about a darker motive, but (there was) possibly a little bit of complacency," she said.

"I can't understand them not seeing the concerns (their fixture list) would cause. The moment it hit my inbox it resonated with me, in terms of what the implications would be.

"It staggers me that it was stated that there would be no advantage or disadvantage. I just don't see how that could be true and it is not just about ourselves and Rangers. There are other clubs in this competition for whom these matches are important. It is season-defining for us."

As to the SPFL's claim to have been surprised she suggested that in itself was telling.

"I'm surprised they are surprised," she said.

"I think there needs to be a look at the governance of the organisation if they believe this type of decision is acceptable to the clubs.

"And, let's be frank here, the league put the onus on clubs like ourselves, to make a decision to ask for a move, rather than the league itself deciding what the best way forward was. That is not our job.

"It also causes issues between clubs. The last thing we want to do is to be seen to be forcing another club to move a home match. That does not foster good relations."

While broadcasters' demands played their part she was in no doubt that the blame lies at the door of the SPFL.

"It is the league's responsibility to organise fixtures," said Dempster.

"It is not the clubs' responsibility or the TV companies' responsibility, it is up to the league. This is not about me saying we should not be having TV games, or that TV is bad in football. It's just simple, there were implications about the initial timing of the Hearts-Rangers game. It was that simple.

"It absolutely baffles me that it was deemed that there was no issue here. There clearly was an issue."

Since the forthcoming SPFL play-offs may represent further challenges, particularly if Hibs, as they are favourites to do, reach the Scottish Cup final, she admitted there is cause for on-going concern about the organisers' capacity to do their job.

"I genuinely don't know what the play off dates are scheduled for, but obviously it will concern us, if we are through to that part of the competition. We just have to wait to see what dates are proposed," said Dempster.

Hibs are still considering whether to take the matter further.

"I can genuinely only sit back and reflect on the past 24 hours," she said.

"We have a cup semi final on Saturday which we are trying to focus on, as do Falkirk, but, undoubtedly, this has left a really sour taste, not just for ourselves, but for many clubs."

Logically the first route for any attempt to invite action against the SPFL would involve the sport's governing body but having undoubtedly influenced yesterday's decision to revert to all matches kicking off simultaneously by joining in Wednesday's questioning of the potential impact on sporting integrity, Stewart Regan, the SFA chief executive yesterday offered some solidarity.

"Ninety-nine per cent of the time there are no issues. Broadcasting in football has been operating for 20-30 years with big money coming into the game. Usually it's no problem at all," he observed.

"There are times - and we had one yesterday - where the broadcaster has a requirement to show a match at a particular time on a particular day and that causes problems elsewhere.

"The in-fighting that followed didn't help. Every time something happens that has a negative perception clearly there is a corresponding repercussion somewhere else.

"Nobody is deliberately trying to cause problems for any particular group."

However while admitting that the current landscape is "challenging" he advised the SPFL to show greater concern for the wider football community in futures.

"I don't think the SPFL are deliberately trying to cause issues but they have to listen to the clubs, they've got to listen to the fans, they've got to listen to the needs of the broadcasters and sponsors as well. Fans have to come first," said Regan.