Former Socceroo Mark Bosnich has delivered an impassioned plea for the A-League to amend its schedule in response to scorching summer temperatures, ahead of another clash in sweltering conditions in Newcastle.

Match officials and team doctors decided to proceed with a scheduled 5pm kick-off for Saturday night’s clash between Newcastle Jets and Western United.

It’s the latest in a host of matches to have been under threat of cancellation or postponement in a heatwave-hammered Australian summer.

And ex-Socceroo Bosnich, now a Fox Football expert, says something must be done.

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“From the summer months, from December, January through all of February there should not be a game that kicks off before 6pm,” Bosnich said.

“What’s it going to take? For a player to die?”

The fixture between the Jets and Western United at McDonald Jones Stadium kicked off under 36 degree heat despite questions over player’s safety being raised.

Bozza blasted the match officials for their failure to delay the game an hour.

“There’s a lot of times Fox Sports get a lot of criticism for this,” Bosnich said.

“It’s not up to us! It’s up to the match official, the match commissioner and the two team doctors. So do the right thing.

“Just the push the game back to 6pm because if someone has a serious health problem it’ll be too late then.”

Newcastle CEO Lawrie McKinna defended the decision to proceed with the game in oppressive conditions.

“There’s going to be two drink breaks during the game and the two team docs are happy with that, so the game is going to go ahead on time.”

“The doctors have to come in and use their expertise rather than referees and ex-football players.”

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Western United manager Mark Rudan agreed with Bosnich’s concern over the conditions.

Rudan said “I guess we’re not the first two teams to play in this extreme heat. We’ve seen it way too often I believe, this year and the last two years as well.”

“Bozza made a very valid point about moving the kick off to a later timeslot.

“At the end of the day player welfare is the most important, not just my players but you’ve got to protect the opposition players as well.”

With the McDonald Jones stadium all but empty with fans seemingly wanting to steer clear of the hot Newcastle weather, Rudan asked for further consideration to the atmosphere and game quality to be taken in the future.

“I’m not going to stand here and make excuses,” Rudan said, “But we need to think long and hard about making sure the product and players are looked after going forward.”

Two drinks breaks were taken in each half – meaning players only played 15 minutes at a time – but the debate is only likely to rage hotter with every match played in blistering temperatures.