Neil Lennon has hit out at the prospect of a third visit to Ibrox after the Premiership split.
The fixtures are expected to be announced early next week with Sevco causing the SPFL something of a headache.
For reasons best known to the SPFL the tribute act were given home matches against Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts in the first round of fixtures, the clubs that finished first, second and fifth last season. Being away to Aberdeen in the first round of fixtures would have meant that only one top six club would have faced a third visit to Ibrox.
With Hibs and Kilmarnock finishing in the top six it means that all of the clubs in the top half of the table have been to Ibrox twice before the split with Sevco due to play two home matches.
Convention has it that the lowest ranked clubs (Hibs and Kilmarnock) suffer the inconvenience of a third away fixture but with just a couple of points between three clubs competing for second place surely balancing the fixtures out between Aberdeen, Sevco and Hibs would be much fairer.
???? | Neil Lennon spoke about the challenge of the final two pre-split fixtures and beyond at today’s press conference – watch in full for free below.
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— Hibernian FC (@HibsOfficial) April 2, 2018
“I’m assuming that because we’re the lowest seeded team we will be going there (Ibrox) for the third time,” Lennon said at today’s media conference.
“If that does happen it will be a major concern. It will be a major disadvantage.
“Not only for our chances of finishing second, but also from a financial point of view as we lose out on a sell-out home crowd, which I think we have earned the right to have.
“We will just have to cross that bridge when it comes to it.”
Sending Hearts on a third trip to Ibrox would seem a fairer solution with the Edinburgh side enjoying the benefit of 10,000 away fans visiting Murrayfield earlier in the season.
To balance out Celtic’s fixtures the hoops are expected to face Aberdeen, Sevco and Kilmarnock at home alongside trips to Hearts and Hibs.
Celtic could clinch the title in the first match after the split with a visit from Aberdeen expected.
Sevco have taken one point out of 18 from their home matches against Celtic, Hibs and Kilmarnock.