Hughes says there should be greater consideration for fans' comfort

Hibernian boss John Hughes is in favour of a winter break in Scottish football.

Just two of the six midweek Scottish Premier League matches have survived the wintry weather, with Hibs' game at St Johnstone one of the casualties.

"Maybe we need to start the season a bit earlier. If we could, then I would be in favour of it," said Hughes.

"Supporters don't want to turn up and shiver and be freezing cold. We need to bring them into an environment that encourages them to come in and stay."

St Mirren's SPL match with Aberdeen on Saturday was cancelled after concerns that the icy area around the stadium was unsafe for fans.

Thirteen games were also called off in the Scottish Football League that day.

Now, with four more SPL matches off in midweek because of police safety concerns, despite pitches being playable, calls are once again being made for a winter shutdown.

Hughes told BBC Scotland: "If you are driving about on a sunny day and a game is on, you stop and watch it because you are a football enthusiast.

"If you are driving along and it's snowing hard or pouring with rain, you drive on."

The Easter Road manager would like to see Scottish football's organisers attempt to find room for a winter break.

He says that, at the last meeting of SPL managers, Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee spoke about the break they have in the German Bundesliga.

"It's a six-week shutdown, time you can spend with your family, enjoy Christmas and New Year and then come back and do a mini pre-season," said Hughes.

However enthusiastic McGhee and Hughes might be, there is no chance of a break being introduced next season.

The SPL announced just before Christmas that season 2010/11 would begin later than usual, on 14 August, eliminating the chance of a winter shutdown.

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "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."

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