DAVID WEIR fears the introduction of the winter break has made it more difficult for Scottish clubs to progress in European competition.
Rangers rounded off the first half of the campaign against Celtic on Hogmanay and will return to action against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
If Mark Warburton’s side can go all the way to Hampden once again this term, they would have just four weeks before they enter the Europa League qualifying stages.
Weir said: “We need to, but it is difficult. Look at this season. The Cup final is May 28 and clubs are playing in Europe on June 28.
“How do you get your team in the best condition to qualify? How do you get them to play consecutive Thursdays during four qualifying rounds to reach the group stage and increase the co-efficient with potentially four weeks’ break? Is that the best preparation?
“I think we make it difficult. I know it is difficult to schedule games, the winter break and everything else. But are we giving ourselves the best chance? I’m not sure.
“Of course [Scottish football should do more to help the clubs], but they have got to help themselves. The league and the SFA are not here to purely help the top end.
“They are here to help everybody, the youths, the Women’s’ football and they have an obligation to the smaller clubs.
“There are a lot of factors involved. We just have to make the best of the situation we are in and see where we are at. Judging by the game on Sunday we have a long way to go.
“That (the league season could have been shortened if there was no winter break) is my view. How many midweek fixtures have we had and how many other games could we have played?
“I think we could have been a bit busier so I’m not sure there has been a great deal of thought gone into it. I’m not sure it is the best thing.
“As usual we are looking for quick fixes and I don’t think quick fixes work.”
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