Fuel crisis fixture talks abandoned

Yesterday's emergency meeting of Scottish Premier League clubs held to decide whether games can go ahead despite the fuel crisis had to be abandoned - because representatives did not have enough petrol to get there. But games across the country should not be affected too severely this weekend.

Yesterday's emergency meeting of Scottish Premier League clubs held to decide whether games can go ahead despite the fuel crisis had to be abandoned - because representatives did not have enough petrol to get there. But games across the country should not be affected too severely this weekend.

Both the English and Scottish Premier Leagues confirmed that this weekend's respective fixture programmes will not be disrupted. Early concerns that Newcastle United would be unable to fulfil their match with Southampton at The Dell appear to have been unfounded and the decision of the protesters to abandon their blockades should ease the problem still further.

Fans desperate to beat the petrol crisis jammed a telephone hotline set up by the Premiership's sponsors, Carling, to help transport fans to away fixtures. Coaches confirmed for the trips from Ipswich, Derby and Newcastle to Leeds, Sunderland and Southampton respectively are all fully subscribed. The Premier League has so far received no requests for postponements.

In the Scottish lower leagues, the fixtures have fallen kindly for many of the 30 clubs, especially in the First Division where a number of team are due to take on near neighbours. Airdrie make the short trip to Clyde, Inverness play host to Ross County, Alloa travel to Falkirk and Raith are at Livingston. East Stirling were still on course to make the long haul north to Peterhead for their Third Division game.