Scotland have reached a deal with the English Premiership clubs over the release of players ahead of the autumn internationals. While Frank Hadden, the coach, says it is not ideal, since it means that players will still be missing at a vital stage of the build-up before the match against New Zealand, at least it means he can start planning the detail of his training.

Speaking at the same time as he confirmed that Mike Blair will continue to captain the team for the three games in November, Hadden said the deal with the English clubs and the International Rugby Board, which he expects to be replicated with the French clubs, falls short of the 13 days' access to players that he wanted but does give him more time with the players than the five days the clubs had initially been prepared to allow.

Players will be released for three days a fortnight ahead of the opening international on November 8, meaning that they will be with Scotland from Monday, October 27 to Wednesday of the same week. Those selected to play for their clubs on the weekend of November 1 will have to be released in time to be back by Thursday, October 30 but will return to the Scotland camp 24 hours after they play.

“At least we have some clarity,” Hadden said. “We're not entirely happy with the resolution but at least we can plan for the autumn tests. Playing the weekend before is not ideal, but it may be possible that if we select them some players will be rotated. We are optimistic that that might be the case, if it is not then it may have an impact on the way we select our team.”

He is further heartened by contact with some of the coaches in England. “It's an EDF Cup weekend and some of the clubs are not picking their strongest sides in that competition, although some are,” Hadden explained. “I'm speaking to the clubs on a regular basis and they have asked me to speak to them as soon as we have nailed down our selection. Who knows, we might be able to secure something, but there are no guarantees.

“I have spent some time going round clubs. I knew at that stage that we weren't going to shake hands and be absolutely certain that everybody would be available for a fortnight leading up to the games but I know that by building a relationship there was an increased chance of that happening.”

The result could be, however, that players who are forced to play for their clubs that weekend will find it harder to win selection for Scotland. Hadden says that it is not a case of refusing to play them, but the fact that they will be away for four crucial days of training and will come back battered and bruised from their matches, which will prevent them taking a full part in the early training sessions of the match week, that will count against them.

In reality, the decision is a fudge, neither side getting quite what they want, and the issue will continue to divide club and country until the international regulations are finally and fully rewritten. That is due to happen in late November, but the last attempt failed and there is no guarantee that the next one will succeed. Hadden believes that there cannot be a real solution until the European season is restructured so that club and international demands stop overlapping.

Meanwhile, it was an altogether easier decision to reappoint Blair as captain, though the player himself said he had not started thinking about the appointment until Hadden rang him up last week.

“I'm really pleased Frank has given me a big vote of confidence to do the job,” he said. “Having experienced it in the Six Nations and the tour to Argentina it's something I'm looking forward to doing again. I've enjoyed doing it with Edinburgh, this is a big month for me and the guys.”