There's an obvious solution to Scottish football's scheduling crisis – but Celtic and Rangers might not want to hear it

It doesn’t get the same treatment as the likes of Valentine’s Day, Burns’ Night or even International Kiss a Ginger Day (which is harsh on us strawberry blonds).

But this Monday is apparently Blue Monday. It’s officially the most depressing day of the year. It’s right in the thick of winter, the festive part period is long in the past and everyone is tired, hungry and skint in the final brutal hours up to payday.

Perhaps it’s no wonder there’s so much moaning in Scottish football too. The grumbling has got louder by the day and most gaffers are griping about the same thing. The scheduling. Players are dropping like flies, left, right and centre, the quality of the games has gone out of the window and mistakes are getting made all over the shop.

Managers like Jim Goodwin and Stuart Kettlewell have branded the fixture list as crazy, Brendan Rodgers had talked about his Celtic side hitting a wall and Philippe Clement has sacked his sports science department.

It’s mayhem. And it’s hard not to feel sympathy. There’s been so many games of late it’s almost felt like overkill. No wonder fans have been grumpy as well.

It’s tough on everyone, particularly the clubs running tight squads.

And while Celtic and Rangers have the most resources, this schedule is hardly the best way for our remaining clubs in Europe to prepare for season-defining encounters.

Celtic face Young Boys on Wednesday and a win can take them into the knockout stages for the first time in more than a decade. Yet they will go into it on the back of nine games in 27 days.

Young Boys? They spent a month in winter shutdown and came back last night for their first game since December 15 against FC Winterthur, who might be based on that town in Game of Thrones.

Meanw