#PLStories- Ralph Hasenhuttl welcomes consideration of rule change consideration on fixtures #SAINTSFC

BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl was in favour of the Premier League’s decision to consult clubs regarding changing rules on match postponements. Clubs are expected to meet next week, when the league is effectively on its winter break, to discuss changes to the criteria for calling a game off. Currently, where a club cannot field 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper either from their squad list or their appropriately experienced under-21 players, the match will be postponed. The rules allow for postponements to be approved where players are unavailable due to a positive COVID-19 test or close contact with someone who is positive, but also if they are sidelined by injury or away on international duty. The Premier League board also considers a range of other factors in making its decisions, including a club’s ability to safely prepare its players in the lead-up to a match – for example if their training ground has been closed – or any other guidance from the UK Health Security Agency. A Premier League spokesperson said: “The Premier League is consulting with our clubs regarding COVID-19 postponement rules and guidance in light of the changing national picture and the falling number of cases within our squads. “The league’s current guidance was amended in December following the emergence of the new Omicron variant and we continue to monitor the ongoing effects of the virus and will update our guidance accordingly.” Saints have yet to apply for any of their fixtures to be postponed this season, with Hasenhuttl one of a number of top-flight bosses who have called for more clarity regarding postponements. The Austrian boss also questioned whether new signings from teams added before the original fixture date should be allowed to feature in rearranged matches. Asked about the Premier League reconsidering the current postponement rule, Hasenhuttl said: “First, good that they look again over the rules. It's very important. I think everybody sees the situation was not ideal for the league. “Second, the new signings. It's not so easy because some teams have lost some players in the transfer window so the whole situation is different. “Some teams have five games less than others. It's a difficult situation to change rules during the season anywhere. “In the end we all have to be clear that we only have a certain amount of fixture dates where we can play these games and they're getting less and less. “We need to play every game that is possible. The easiest way would be if the COVID situation is gone but we don't know if this happens or how things will be in the future. “It looks good now that we are running through the Omicron variant and finally back to normality. This would be great for the league, definitely. “We are still ahead of other leagues in Europe and I see German football without supporters in the ground. “We are in a very, very privileged situation I must say and hopefully it stays like this and in the end hopefully we replay every game that is coming up because this is important for the fans and clubs." New regulations regarding postponements could apply when the English top flight resumes on February 8.