The SPL has ruled out the return of the winter shutdown

The Scottish Premier League has confirmed the 2010-11 season will kick off on 14 August.

And the top-flight administrators ruled out a winter shutdown, although chief executive Neil Doncaster accepts it would be of benefit.

Doncaster said there are "good reasons" for a shutdown, such as reducing injuries and avoiding bad weather.

However, the chief executive conceded that a lack of available midweek dates makes scheduling too problematic.

The SPL considered three possible start dates, which included 31 July, 7 and 14 August, before settling on the later of the three.

Doncaster went on to provide a detailed rationale for the decision in a bid to avoid a repeat of the bad blood with the Scottish Football Association over the opening for the current campaign.

The SFA was furious after the SPL announced a start date of 8 August and eventually convinced them to move it back a week in a bid to give Scotland more time to prepare for their 12 August World Cup qualifier in Norway.

Uefa have decreed that leagues cannot schedule midweek fixture cards against Champions League or Europa League fixtures Neil Doncaster

Doncaster wrote in his blog on www.scotprem.com: "Because of the very public disagreement over the start date for season 2009-10, it is more important than ever to be transparent about why the SPL has chosen 14 August as the start date for season 2010-11."

He explained that due to the World Cup, the start date for next season became a straight choice between 7 and 14 August.

"Some clubs were in favour of a 7 August start date," he wrote. "Their reasons were that an earlier start date gave the SPL maximum impact and would enable clubs to bring in cash slightly earlier. It would also mean one less midweek fixture later in the season."

Doncaster said the SPL decided that while fewer clubs would benefit from a 14 August start, they would do so by a much more significant amount than the majority of teams would have from an earlier kick off.

He added: "On balance, the SPL board took the view that, in this instance, a 14 August start date should be chosen."

The SPL last had a winter break in season 2000-01 but there is no sign of it being revived.

"Unfortunately, Uefa have decreed that leagues cannot schedule midweek fixture cards against Champions League or Europa League fixtures," explained Doncaster.

"Together, with the fixture congestion caused by various cup games and replays, and once every two years a World Cup or European Championships, there just is not the scope to fit a winter break into the fixture calendar.

"The SPL has been working harder than ever on our fixture system in recent seasons.

"And our clubs have indicated their satisfaction with the improvements that we have made. Even supporters have acknowledged this.

"When this season's fixtures were published, we only received one e-mail of complaint - a marked change from previous seasons.

"Setting fixtures remains an inexact science, though.

"What is important in every decision made by the SPL board is that we take account of the concerns and interests of all of our clubs."

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