The top three are separated by just three points and that could lead to an issue when it comes to scheduling fixtures for the final day

10:00, 16 Mar 2026Updated 12:37, 16 Mar 2026

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The post-split top and bottom six in the Scottish Premiership could be finalised as early as this weekend – with attention then immediately turning to the fixtures.

It’s an annual headache for the SPFL fixture schedulers and one or two clubs are usually unhappy as the very format of the top flight throws up the odd anomaly.

The aim upon the introduction of the set-up a quarter of a century ago was always for every club to have 19 home and away games, although that hasn’t always been possible.

What is more common is a team playing a rival three times at home and once away or vice versa in order to balance things up.

That will almost certainly be the case this season with Danny Rohl and Rangers facing a treacherous post-split run-in in one of the closely contested title races for decades – with a THIRD trip to either Motherwell, Falkirk or Hibs on the cards to balance out their home and away games.

The Bairns need just a single point from their remaining three games before the split to ensure a top six finish in their first season back with the big boys so it’s almost certain that the Light Blues will face that scenario.

There is also nothing better than a team holding aloft that giant Scottish Premiership trophy in front of a full house of their own fans. And it’s something those on Hampden’s sixth floor at the league governing body have the power to at least try and make happen thanks to the split, unlike in most other leagues around Europe.

But how do they go about predicting it? Record Sport has taken a look back at some of the closest title races in the last two decades and where the teams stood at the time of the post split fixtures being announced.

And for all the talk of computers and randomised fixtures it seems the logic is pretty simple – the team sitting at the top of the table before the league splits is handed a home fixture. That is, unless, both of the top two finish up with an away game as was the case on two occasions when Rangers and Celtic battled it out on the final day.

But now leaders Hearts have to be factored into the equation with the top three separated by just three points with just three games to play before the split. If the Jambos remain at the top when the fixtures are are released then, if the SPFL post split fixture methodology from the past is used, it would rule out the current top two clashing in a blockbuster final day as Hearts are due to travel to Celtic Park after the split.

2023/24

The post split fixtures were revealed on April 16 which came a couple of days after Rangers suffered a title-damaging defeat at Ross County.

(Image: SNS Group)

That loss left the Light Blues four points behind Celtic but the Ibrox side had a game in hand. And that advantage saw Brendan Rodgers’ men handed a home game on the final day with St Mirren the visitors to Parkhead while Rangers were given a trip to Tynecastle.

2021/22

The post split fixtures were announced on April 11 – 24 hours after Rangers thrashed St Mirren 4-0 in Paisley in the final game before the split. However, that still only moved the Light Blues – who had Europe very much on their mind with an upcoming Europa League quarter final second leg clash against Braga – to within six points of a Celtic side who had hammered St Johnstone 7-0 24 hours earlier.

And that advantage was enough to have the Hoops heavy favourites to win the title and as such they were given a home game on the final day, against Motherwell.

2010/11

Celtic were five points clear of Walter Smith’s Rangers, albeit the Hoops had played a game more, when the post split fixtures were revealed as they looked to be on course to win the title in Neil Lennon’s first full season in charge at Parkhead. It looked like the trophy would be heading to the east end of Glasgow and Celtic were handed a home game against Motherwell but it went horribly wrong as they crashed to defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle in the run-in and Rangers won it – at Rugby Park.

2008/09

A home defeat in the festive Old Firm derby had left Rangers trailing rivals Celtic by seven points but Walter Smith’s Light Blues clawed their way back into it and were just a point behind at the time of the post split fixture announcement.

It was enough of an advantage for the Hoops to be handed a home game on the final day – against Hearts – but Rangers overturned the deficit to win it at Tannadice.

2007/08

This was a jam-packed run in with the season having to be extended due to fixture congestion for Rangers as a result of them competing in four competitions, including a run to the UEFA Cup Final.

Both Old Firm sides were handed away days on the final day with Rangers going down to Aberdeen at Pittodrie while Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink’s header 65 miles down the road at Tannadice won it for Gordon Strachan’s men to complete a hat-trick of titles.

2004/05

This will go down as one of the most thrilling ever finales in Scottish football history on the day dubbed Helicopter Sunday. But neither eventual champions Rangers or Celtic were at home on this occasion with the two surprisingly sent on the road. Alex McLeish’s won it at Easter Road after Celtic’s dramatic late collapse at Motherwell.

2002/03

The post split fixtures were published on April 25 and at that point Rangers were ahead of rivals Celtic who were juggling both domestic and European affairs on their march to the UEFA Cup final in Seville. But the Light Blues were favourites to win it when the fixtures were published and were handed a home game against Dunfermline and that meant they got to lift the trophy at Ibrox after pipping the Hoops on goal difference despite Martin O’Neill’s side winning at Rugby Park.