Rangers manager Mark Warburton is not convinced by introduction of a two-week winter break and the introduction of the new League Cup format, which will be implemented by the Scottish Professional Football League from next year.
The SPFL has announced a revamped League Cup system wherein eight groups of five teams each will compete in a round-robin format. Eight group winners along with the best runners-up will progress to the next round.
If any of the group games end in a draw, it will go straight to a penalty shootout with the winner being awarded a bonus point.
The eight groups of teams will comprise of all 38 teams not involved in European competitions coupled with the winners of the Highland League and the Lowland League.
The Scottish Premier League used to have a winter break from 1998/99 to 2002/03. But the festive break was removed in 2003/04 and after 12 years will return to the Premiership next year, which will allow clubs a two-week holiday during the new year.
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Should the Gers earn promotion to the Scottish top tier this term, they will be allowed the two-week winter break as well.
Warburton is not convinced that either of the two alterations will benefit his side or Scottish football as a whole. The 53-year-old does not find much difference between the four international breaks that are already provided and the new two-week winter break.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Warburton said: “It’s just like an international break, and I’m not sure that constitutes a ‘winter break’ if I’m honest.
“What we would do in those instances is play on the Saturday, recover on the Sunday, train Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and give the players four days off before coming back in for a normal week.
“I understand the debate, but the focus has been on starting earlier, in which case, if you put in a winter break, when do we finish the season? The players need to recharge, get over injuries and come back fresh and fit for pre-season.
“Pre-season for me is the most important time of the year – you get the chance to work with the players for six weeks and bed-in new individuals and tactical ideas before going away on tour.
“So you need to give yourself that chance and it needs to be the highest quality.”
The Gers manager was also critical of the League Cup format, arguing that for a big club to play their final two pre-season games against lower league opposition will not necessarily be an ideal scenario for the club.
Warburton insisted that he would prefer if his side play their last two pre-season fixtures against other top tier European opposition.
“In terms of the League Cup format, and while I understand that it suits others, a pre-season programme should be starting with lower quality and building up to the best possible test the week before the season.
“If we could have a pre-season of five or six games where you play a non-league opponent, a lower league opponent, one just below and then your last two games against an English Premier League team and a top European opponent at a packed Ibrox would be ideal.
“That’s how I will look to work it up here, so I’m not sure it [the new format] suits the bigger clubs, wherein your last two games could be against lower league opposition – that’s not the ideal scenario for an elite level.
“I’d love to play a top La Liga or Bundesliga club at Ibrox a week before the start of the season to see where the players are.”
