EVERYONE may have got what they wanted in the end, but the path getting there has been an unforgiving one for the much-maligned SPFL.

On Wednesday the announcement that the final weekend of fixtures in the Championship would be played over two days was met with widespread outrage.

With the battle for second place set to go down to the wire, the proposal of Hearts v Rangers to meet on Sunday May 3, a day after all other games are

contested, caused consternation among clubs particularly the Tynecastle side and Hibernian.

It would mean that Rangers, who are vying for second spot with Hibs, would go into their game knowing what result they needed with many believing it would compromise the sporting integrity of the league.

After a wave of criticism that flowed towards SPFL and in particular chief Neil Doncaster, the league body has since re-jigged their plans with all games now taking place at the same time on the Saturday.

However, the change of heart has done little to satisfy many, in particular Hibs.

Chief executive Leeann Dempster said: "In response to the SPFL's passing of the buck, Hibernian sent a timely email which stated that with deeply meaningful games involved we believed the responsibility lay with the SPFL to do what was right to ensure that sporting integrity of the competition was unimpeachable, and pointed to the protocols around final round fixtures which have been followed for some time.

"The SPFL chose to ignore this clear view that the duty to ensure a level playing field lay with them, and not with any individual club or group of clubs.

"Instead, a second email arrived seeking clarification on whether we were requesting a change to play at the same time as Hearts and Rangers or not.

"If we did not make such a specific request, we were told, they would "assume" we were content with the arrangement as proposed. This was disappointing.

"In our view, instead of doing what was right they sought to place the onus on clubs to achieve parity - utterly contrary to protocols they themselves confirmed had existed for many years and in stark contrast to their plans for the final round of fixtures in the Premiership.

"This was a ludicrous situation entirely of the SPFL's making.

"For example, in our view if we had requested a switch to coincide with the Hearts v Rangers clash it could have seen Queen of the South disadvantaged.

"Sporting integrity is sporting integrity and must be applied equally to all clubs - and that is surely the job of the SPFL."

The day the final games of the Championship are played is just one of several issues which have irked clubs and fans across the country.

There is also a fear that if Hibs beat Falkirk in tomorrow's William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final that their participation in the final will cause the Premiership play-off final leg to be knocked on into the first week in June when many players are out of contract.

On top of that, Kilmarnock have voiced their displeasure at the top flight's post-split fixture card.

The Rugby Park side made a special request to play at home on Saturday, April 25, to mark the 50th anniversary of their only top flight title win which was snubbed.

On top of that, Gary Locke's men will complete the season having played 20 away games and only 18 at home.

Killie chairman Jim Mann said: "I feel very aggravated about the contents of the post-split fixtures and have protested in the strongest possible fashion to the SPFL.

"I do not feel our request to host a home fixture to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Club's only title success was unreasonable and I felt that I had a duty to our fans and importantly our season ticket holders to speak up."