Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes lessons have to be learned following the SPFL’s late decision to rearrange his side’s match against Dundee at Dens Park.
The Dons were due to face the Dens Park side on Monday but the match has been moved forward to 12.15pm on Saturday after three Aberdeen players were called up for international duty.
Defender Mark Reynolds has been selected for the Scotland squad to face Northern Ireland, with Niall McGinn included in Michael O’Neill’s team for next Wednesday’s Hampden friendly.
Lawrence Shankland also received his first call-up to the Scotland under-21 squad for their friendly against Hungary, which prompted the Dons to request a new date for the Dundee match.
Manager McInnes, whose side can move level on points with leaders Celtic with a win, believes the game should never have been scheduled for Monday – just 48 hours before Scotland host Northern Ireland in a friendly.
The Aberdeen manager said: “I think it is inconvenient all round because the decision was made so late in the day.
“If we had known the match could have been moved earlier we would have done that.
“We put the request in to move the game on the back of three players being called up but if we had known there was an alternative date in the first place then a Saturday would have been our preference to have the game.
“To have it changed so late in the day is far from ideal, especially for the supporters. It is not too much of a hardship from our point of view but it is for the supporters.
“It is wrong to change a game so late in the day like that. We felt on the back of the players being called up we had to make sure those players were available.
“It is a lesson for everyone – why have a game scheduled for the Monday during international week?
“That was always going to be a concern for me.
“We are ready to go on Saturday and we are grateful we have the chance to play the game this weekend rather than having to wait a length of time for the match to be rearranged.”