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IT'LL take evolution to get there, not revolution.

But Campbell Ogilvie believes summer football is, and should be, inevitable.

The pivotal moment won’t come on a sub-zero Saturday in the middle of January when we’re up to our necks in under-armour, wondering what the hell we’re doing trying to get a game on.

It’ll come on a balmy July evening when yet another one of our teams goes out of Europe to opposition who aren’t in our league – but halfway through their own.

It’s a battle Ogilvie has been fighting on two fronts for the past two years of his presidency.

Opposite him lies tradition – and no-one knows more than the SFA’s head blazer how hard that is to shift.

But despite being in the final year of his tenure, the former administrator at Rangers and Hearts is determined to initiate change before he finishes – even if it happens a long way down the road.

Not just for the pro game – he also wants kids to train and improve in conditions where they’re able to develop technique rather than hypothermia.

And to make the most of pitches that are at their best in the summer yet have the goals taken down and the gates on them locked.

Ogilvie said: “There are two aspects – the professional aspect and the development one, and I don’t think I’m winning the argument on the first one.

“We got Stirling University to undertake a study on youth football between the end of February and November.

“It’s not so much about playing the games. It’s about the development of players.

“In the summer, we close down facilities and don’t have access.

“But in the survey, there was a general willingness among the 32 local authorities to open up access to schools with synthetic pitches that are currently closed at 4pm.

“We are debating the youth side. It’s quite hard to break down the doors but it’s fundamental to train and develop youngsters.

“We are getting there but you are trying to change traditions.

“The local authorities have been good at looking at it and the youth FA are behind it. It’s not rocket science that you will improve if you train in better conditions.”

That, as they say, is a no-brainer – but the arguments over the switch for the professional game are far more complex.

However, the man credited with the genesis of the Champions League reckons that as the game changes, as Euro qualifiers start earlier and the season runs longer, the time is coming to think seriously about a seismic shift.

He said: “Our teams are now starting in Europe in early July.

“Next year’s Champions League final is on June 6. There is an international a week later.

“We used to start European games in mid September. The league was late August and the cup a few weeks earlier.

“Things evolve and the seasons eat into each other.

“We’ve reached a stage in Scottish football when we need to seriously look at the fixtures. It’s not just the weather. There are other constraints such as the World Cup in Qatar.

“When teams are playing in July you must look at the fixture calendar. We aren’t just talking about it. We are actually sitting down and looking at options.”

Celtic and Aberdeen go into the Champions League and Europa League draws tomorrow and both are set to play games in July.

Depending on who they pull, they could be facing sides halfway through their seasons.

The leagues in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Estonia and Ireland, among others, are all in full flow.

Ogilvie said: “I seriously worry about our clubs starting in Europe in July and going up against a team from Sweden, who’ve had a head start – 18 games under their belt.

“From that side we’ve got to look at summer football. A Supporters Direct survey found 40 per cent were interested in this, so there’s your customers.

“I seriously think it’s something we must take to the next level. It’s one of the areas we should be putting top of our agenda.

“We’re working closer with the SPFL. We now have a solid base to build on. We take three or four key topics and focus on them.

“We have the Professional Game Board and can focus on some of these issues instead of league reconstruction. Summer football is definitely one of the key topics.

“The playing season only used to come up in January and when it became the summer people didn’t want to know about it.

“But now, for practical reasons with players, the supporters seem to be coming round to it.”

Ogilvie insists all of the game’s stakeholders are involved in the debate.

However he bristled at the idea the decision would be taken to facilitate broadcasters’ interests first. He snapped: “We have to work out what’s best for football first.

“It might be attractive for TV down the line but we have to look at our own house first. If you want something strongly enough, I believe you can work round some of the barriers.

“How long will it take? I think this is an areas that tends to evolve more than just a sudden change.

“The SPFL can start the league when they want but it’s not as if we’re doing this in isolation.

“We have a Scottish Football Fixtures Working Group that is made up predominately of the SPFL, SFA and the Highland League. The Lowland League will come into that as well.

“The subject came up for the discussion at the last PGB meeting. I’m not saying anything will happen immediately but it is a key area for discussion.”

Safety comes first in match booze battle

The battle to bring booze back to Scottish grounds won’t be won in a hurry, according to Campbell Ogilvie.

But he hinted the SFA would back the move if Police Scotland gave it the nod.

A Supporters Direct survey last week showed fans backed almost unanimously the reintroduction of having a pint at a match but Ogilvie said: “It’s an emotive area.

“We understand supporters want to improve the whole match experience, it’s not just about alcohol in grounds. This is one area the police and safety authorities are close to and we have ongoing discussions.

“We meet with Supporters Direct regularly and this will definitely be discussed but I still think we’re a fair way off.

“With any decisions we take, whether it’s on safe standing or alcohol, safety will always be top of the list. Nothing will happen without close collaboration with the police and safety authorities.”