McLeish hopes for Old Firm break
Scotland manager Alex McLeish wants Celtic and Rangers to postpone their Clydesdale Bank Premier League fixtures on the weekend before the decisive Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy.
Celtic play host to Falkirk and Rangers are away to St Mirren ahead of the match which will decide the fate of the national team.
McLeish now intends to sound out Old Firm bosses Gordon Strachan and Walter Smith before making a formal request to the SPL.
“With the bulk of our players coming from the Old Firm it would be great if they could get a break,” he said.
“They have been through a lot recently with internationals, the Champions League and the Old Firm game and they could benefit mentally as much as physically.
“We would obviously need the approval of Gordon Strachan and Walter Smith because we need them on board and I will speak to them to gauge their thoughts.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s players will receive a share of a £1.25million bonus if they qualify for Euro 2008, according to reports today.
Players agreed to waive any win bonuses or appearances fees in favour of a lump sum in the event of qualifying for next summer’s finals – meaning they would end up with nothing if they fail to make it to Austria and Switzerland.
The cash would be distributed on a pro-rata basis and Scottish Football Association president George Peat said: “The players’ wages situation is an interesting one.
“There’s no win bonus, they only get remunerated if they qualify. The days of quibbling about appearance money is in the past, thankfully.”
