Ian Murray has blasted the SPFL's "silly and ridiculous" play-off schedule for decrease league sides after his exhausted Airdrie aspect suffered a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to Queen's Park within the Championship last.
And the Diamonds gaffer is asking on league bosses to take gamers' welfare under consideration after the finalists performed 4 video games in underneath two weeks, with simply over 48 hours between each legs of the ultimate.
Having performed extra-time in opposition to Montrose within the semi-final second leg win on Could 7, Airdrie then drew 1-1 with Spiders on Thursday night time earlier than a 1.10pm kick-off on Sunday afternoon within the second leg resulted in a 2-1 defeat after extra-time.
It left either side lifeless on their ft at New Broomfield after such a good turnaround.
And whereas Murray has no qualms with the consequence, he insists some league matches could possibly be performed in midweek in the course of the season to lighten the load in relation to crunch time in campaigns.
He mentioned: "Our boys had been drained and so they've labored tirelessly all season.
"We have needed to win each single sport since Christmas to remain in contact with Cove Rangers [the League One champions].
"That takes rather a lot out of individuals mentally and bodily.
"We missed out on the title within the second final week of the season, then tried to recuperate the boys.
"However the factor I might say - and I mentioned this to folks after the Montrose sport - is the time they [the SPFL] give us, asking us to enter excessive strain, laborious video games, is simply so silly and ridiculous.
"We have got a complete season to play midweek video games and for some motive we cater to the staff above each single time.
"They want to have a look at that.
"For the Premiership last, the groups get per week's relaxation, however we by no means had that and, for the lifetime of me, I do not know why.
"It is so necessary. We go on about gamers' welfare mentally however they do not give it some thought bodily generally.
"Groups at this stage run with small squads. We want time to recuperate and recuperate, get guys mentally prepared by getting them down from the ceiling or selecting them up off the ground.
"It is a no-brainer and simple for me to kind out - simply play a few midweek video games within the season.
"They will not do it for no matter motive.
"I do know it is laborious with fixtures as a result of TV schedules dictate, however come on, tv cannot dictate at this stage.
"Only a week, 10 days. Only a break. We're not asking for 3 weeks, a month or a mid-season break.
"Simply give the gamers on either side an opportunity."
In extra-time a drained deal with from Dylan Easton handed Queen's Park a penalty with simply eight minutes remaining and Simon Murray scored to ship Spiders up.
Murray, whose aspect completed 21 factors forward of Spiders in League One, added: "You would see on the finish of that sport each units of gamers had been out on their ft and it was going to take a penalty, a set-piece or a foul choice to resolve it as a result of the prize is so large.
"However big congratulations to Queen's Park. They've hung in there all season, they're a really stuffy aspect and laborious to beat.
"We simply must take it on the chin and are available again subsequent season."
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