The SPL will have a winter break next season, starting at the beginning of January. The season itself will stretch to the 24th of May and the Scottish cup final will round off the season the following week.
An SFA spokesman explained the situation:
"The SPL's midwinter break will be from January 2-25 next year and will be a complete shutdown. In previous years the third round of the Scottish Cup would come in towards the end of it but this time round it will be the first match back for our clubs."
"There has been nothing that tells me I should be doing anything other than organising a 12-team league next season and that's what I've been doing," he said. "The only change is, of course, that St Johnstone will be replaced by Partick Thistle."
It is certain that fans and players alike will welcome the return of the mid season break which was left out last season due to Scotland's ill-fated World Cup campaign.