The Scottish Premier League insist it is not possible to have a winter break every season because of fixture congestion created by World Cups and European Championships. SPL secretary Iain Blair said in the Daily Mail: "We are restricted by major tournaments like the World Cup and the European Championship which dictate that the season finishes earlier than we would like.

"That cuts the number of available dates and makes it impossible to have a winter break in the years in which there are finals of those tournaments scheduled.

"We spoke with the managers at Hampden the other week and the whole issue was raised along with the scheduling of fixtures.

"Jimmy Calderwood of Aberdeen actually came out of the meeting and admitted he had not realised before how difficult it can be.

"Really, the best hope of a reintroduction of a winter break would be in the seasons when there is no World Cup or Euro finals.

"So that's season 2010-11, season 2012-13 and so on. Even then it would only be a short break. All these issues are being discussed and we do propose to meet again with all 12 managers.

"We will also take their views back to the club chairmen and chief executives when we meet them again."