Smith calls for season change

Smith: Summer idea

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Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith believes top-flight football should be played in the summer

Smith feels technique would improve if football was played in better weather conditions.

The SFA chief admits he does not have the power to force the leagues to play in the summer months, but he hopes the desire to increase crowds and improve performances in Europe could bring about change.

"I think if we have better conditions underfoot, players will try to play the game in the right manner and concentrate on aspects like technique, which has been lost a bit to the Scottish game," said Smith.

Idea

"My suggestion has always been shutting down January and February in Scotland and play through to June.

"Two things might help with that. People would see it as a way of getting more fans into the game to maybe see more technical football getting played.

"And because of our coefficient in Europe now being affected and Scottish teams having to come into European competition a bit earlier than in previous years, we maybe should be playing a bit more through the summer, rather than having teams coming back from holiday playing against teams from other leagues who are playing through the summer."

Smith was speaking after the women's game in Scotland moved to a March-November season with a break in July.

"We're trying to do the same thing with the youth game - boys and girls - although there's a bit of resistance there," added Smith

"A lot of the problem in this country is traditionalism - people don't see it changing because it's always been this way.

"Maybe eventually the men's amateur game could change - it will be a bit more difficult for the senior game because of schedules."