As the effect of Storm Dennis continues to be felt throughout the United Kingdom, the SFA and SPFL are left helpless and fearing the worst as further postponements could lead to fixture congestion for Premiership clubs.

St Mirren’s league game against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday was called off due to the excessive wind and rain. Tonight’s Scottish Cup fifth-round replay at the same venue could also be given the thumbs down as the extreme weather continues.

Such an outcome would provide the ruling bodies with a logistical headache. The Met Office has forecast that it will continue to rain for at least another week, which could lead to waterlogged pitches and yet more call-offs.

Scottish Cup ties take precedence over league games and, with few available dates for rescheduling them, the SPFL must find a way for the elite division’s members to clear any backlog and complete their 33 fixtures before the split on April 4.

Climate change analysts suggest that extreme weather is likely to be a recurring theme in the British winter, prompting Saints manager Jim Goodwin to claim that a switch to summer football is not only preferable to the alternative solutions but also inevitable.

“There was a big argument down in England with regards FA Cup replays,” he said. “They are hugely beneficial to the lower league clubs because it can be a great payday against one of the big boys.

“I was involved in one of the meetings with the SFA when they explained how they worked out the calendar and it’s horrendous – the amount of European games, internationals, domestic cup games and league fixtures. There really aren’t enough days in the week to fit things in; you end up almost playing 52 weeks of the year.

“I see how well summer football is doing in the League of Ireland, not just in terms of the standard of play but attendances have increased dramatically, too. That all makes sense, doesn’t it?

“You’d much rather take your kids to a game of football on a summer evening as opposed to what we’ve experienced here in the last few weeks.”

Goodwin doesn’t blame the movers and shakers at Hampden for the current problems, however.

"Nobody has a crystal ball and I applaud the SFA for bringing in the winter break, especially for clubs that are involved in European football and even more so for the national team,” he said. “It's important your best players get rested. Rangers and Celtic are representing us in the Europa League and you want your best international players to be fit and raring to go when those big games come around.

"In that way the winter break makes perfect sense. Obviously, January wasn't horrendous and we could have easily played games but then you come back in February and get the worst weather all year; we certainly can't blame the authorities for that. However, I believe summer football will eventually come our way.”

It makes sense to me and the only problem is that the festive period is such an important one for clubs."