Hearts face up to month of Sundays

FIVE of Hearts' forthcoming league matches have been switched to a Sunday due to television and the club's participation in the UEFA Cup.

The first of four Sunday games in a row for Hearts is on 17 September when they face Motherwell at Fir Park, three days after the first leg of their UEFA tie with Sparta Prague.

A week later the Edinburgh side face Aberdeen at Pittodrie in a match to be shown live on Setanta. Hearts' home game with Dundee United will now take place on 1 October to give them an extra day to recover from the Sparta second leg.

The Edinburgh derby between Hibs and Hearts has been moved from 14 to 15 October to allow for TV coverage at Easter Road. And Hearts' home game with Rangers has also been put back 24 hours for Setanta and will now take place on Sunday, 19 November (2pm).

The SPL also confirmed the first Old Firm derby of the season will take place at Celtic Park on Saturday, 23 September, with a 12.30pm kick-off. The second meeting of the Glasgow clubs will be at Ibrox on Sunday, 17 December.

NEW SPL DATES

Sun 17 Sept: Motherwell v Hearts (3pm)†

Sat 23 Sept: Celtic v Rangers (12.30pm)*

Sun 24 Sept: Aberdeen v Hearts (2pm)*

Sun 1 Oct: Hearts v Dundee United (3pm)†

Sun 1 Oct: Rangers v Aberdeen (3pm)†

Sat 14 Oct: Dundee United v Celtic (12.30pm)*

Sun 15 Oct: Hibs v Hearts (2pm)*

Sun 29 Oct: Kilmarnock v Celtic (2pm)*

Sun 19 Nov: Hearts v Rangers (2pm)*

Sun 17 Dec: Rangers v Celtic (KO TBC)*

Sun 23 Dec: Aberdeen v Rangers (12.30pm)*

* denotes live on Setanta

† denotes switched due to UEFA Cup tie

Taken from the Scotsman