Boab Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 by Lindsay Herron RANGERS have slammed the SFA for failing to postpone today's Homecoming Scottish Cup tie with Forfar earlier when it was patently obvious there was no chance of the game going ahead. They are furious that thousands of fans have been inconvenienced after the fifth round tie at Station Park was called off this morning just hours before the 12.15pm kick-off. And the Club's anger has been compounded by the fact that they told the SFA last week about the extreme weather conditions which have forced the game off. Chief Executive Martin Bain said: "We wrote to the SFA on Thursday afternoon highlighting the long-range weather forecast and we sent them a copy of it which indicated that temperatures on Saturday night would drop to -7. "We asked for a pitch inspection as early as possible in order that no fans would be inconvenienced by travelling to Forfar on a Sunday morning only to be sent home again. "All the SFA said was that the earliest a pitch inspection could take place was 24 hours before kick off but that they would take cognisance of our comments. "Clearly they have not taken cognisance our comments." A pitch inspection did take place yesterday in milder conditions and the game was given the green light, but the severe overnight temperatures meant that there was no chance of the match taking place. The Rangers Chief Executive added: "It's all very well having a cover over the pitch but when the temperature drops to the level it did last night it simply freezes the moisture underneath the covers. "We have made the point to the football authorities on numerous occasions that our fans come from far and wide, especially those who go to away matches. "So to call the game off just three or four hours before kick-off is hugely disruptive for them. "The very reason we wrote to the SFA on Thursday was to avoid this exact scenario. "The point is that the whole nation is in the midst of a cold snap right now and there was no indication that the weather was going to clear. "We are really disappointed by all of this and we feel sorry for those fans who had already set out on their journeys only to learn that the match was off." The tie has now been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 18. http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Ne...1549666,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_ni Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 it could have been handled better for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Good to see they listen to what Martin Bain has to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVB Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Boo hoo....... Welcome to the world of the travelling fan, this used to happen regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyboyblue Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 ` What a surprise to wake up to a deep freeze this morning, we have had such glorious weather recently` quoted the spokesman for the SFA !!! It seems to happen all to often, feck me. The technology is there use it you twats from the SFA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kplfishtank Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Boo hoo....... Welcome to the world of the travelling fan, this used to happen regularly. remember my dad telling me in the sixties at an away trip they got to train station and were told game was off and train was to take them straight back to glasgow they negotiated with guard to let so many off to get the half bottles of whisky and beer for the trip home feck now we wouldnt even be allowed off for a piss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfc_no1fan Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Its not Forfars fault that it was -6 oC last night. I'd rather it was called off at 9am on the Sunday than our players playing and breaking a leg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Still bad job for the game to be cancelled so late when they knew what the outcome would be. I blame the Sky coverage for the extra determined effort by Forfar that failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Its not Forfars fault that it was -6 oC last night. I'd rather it was called off at 9am on the Sunday than our players playing and breaking a leg The point is we warned them that the weather prediction was going to be along these lines, and that this could happen. They failed to listen. No wonder the club's so pissed off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docspiderman Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Should have been called off at the end of the week when EVERYONE could see the weather forecast was for sub zero temperatures overnight. Sunshine and plastic = moisture, moisture and sub zero temperatures = no chance of the game being played because of a frozen pitch.We have seen this year after year including the much postponed Inverurie /Motherwell game because of this very reason. SFA = bricks for brains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 It was obvious the game was never going to go ahead - it was said on here last Thursday and Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenoseloon Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 It was obvious the game was never going to go ahead - it was said on here last Thursday and Friday. I was one of the folk who was up at Station Park yesterday clearing the covers so that the Ref could do a full pitch inspection. He checked every area of the pitch and was happy that there would be no problem. Last night the temperature dropped to -6 degrees and the pitch froze solid. What are you supposed to do. Call it off on the Saturday because the weather forecast people said it would be a low temperature (we know how accurate they can be). Do that, then the temperature doesn't drop, the pitch is playable and Bain is on moaning about a fixture backlog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazzapat Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 It was obvious the game was never going to go ahead - it was said on here last Thursday and Friday. I was one of the folk who was up at Station Park yesterday clearing the covers so that the Ref could do a full pitch inspection. He checked every area of the pitch and was happy that there would be no problem. Last night the temperature dropped to -6 degrees and the pitch froze solid. What are you supposed to do. Call it off on the Saturday because the weather forecast people said it would be a low temperature (we know how accurate they can be). Do that, then the temperature doesn't drop, the pitch is playable and Bain is on moaning about a fixture backlog. To be fair, as we are still in the middle of a hefty cold snap it was plain for all to see it was never gonna get played. A fixture backlog couldnt be claimed, not exactly like we are over whelmed with games. At least its after the game @ torbett towers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 The forecast I posted on Friday morning stated that Saturday night was going to be -4 degrees, Rangers alerted the SFA that it would be even colder. It was obvious the game was never going to go ahead - they might not always be right but if they had seen what gone on in the last week, then they should have known, especially with the games that were called off on Saturday. A semi-professional football pitch was never going to be playable, especially with the covers and time of kick off. Junior football parks in Fife and Tayside were called off on Saturday! And where the fuck does Martin Bain complain about a fixture pile up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaguy51 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Everyone and their dog could see that this game wouldn't go ahead. Gutted for the travelling fans but pretty relieved that we're not risking any players on a shitty pitch against a side with nothing to lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenoseloon Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Everyone and their dog could see that this game wouldn't go ahead. Gutted for the travelling fans but pretty relieved that we're not risking any players on a shitty pitch against a side with nothing to lose. Shitty pitch? One of the best playing surfaces in Scotland. Could have easily been played yesterday but like I said low temps last night put it off. Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaguy51 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Everyone and their dog could see that this game wouldn't go ahead. Gutted for the travelling fans but pretty relieved that we're not risking any players on a shitty pitch against a side with nothing to lose. Shitty pitch? One of the best playing surfaces in Scotland. Could have easily been played yesterday but like I said low temps last night put it off. Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. By shitty, I meant icy and solid in places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docspiderman Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Everyone and their dog could see that this game wouldn't go ahead. Gutted for the travelling fans but pretty relieved that we're not risking any players on a shitty pitch against a side with nothing to lose. Shitty pitch? One of the best playing surfaces in Scotland. Could have easily been played yesterday but like I said low temps last night put it off. Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. Every weather forecast; newspaper, tv, online etc stated that overnight temperatures would be well below freezing, there have been weather and road warnings constantly being issued. Even in Forfar and Hampden these could surely be found, heard or read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. Where you been for the last few weeks, the Bahamas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaguy51 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. Where you been for the last few weeks, the Bahamas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenoseloon Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. Where you been for the last few weeks, the Bahamas? Ok then, looks like it's gonna be frosty this week as well. Maybe just better call of next weekends fixtures now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaguy51 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. Where you been for the last few weeks, the Bahamas? Ok then, looks like it's gonna be frosty this week as well. Maybe just better call of next weekends fixtures now. Are you daft? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davy1shoe Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 It was obvious the game was never going to go ahead - it was said on here last Thursday and Friday. I was one of the folk who was up at Station Park yesterday clearing the covers so that the Ref could do a full pitch inspection. He checked every area of the pitch and was happy that there would be no problem. Last night the temperature dropped to -6 degrees and the pitch froze solid. What are you supposed to do. Call it off on the Saturday because the weather forecast people said it would be a low temperature (we know how accurate they can be). Do that, then the temperature doesn't drop, the pitch is playable and Bain is on moaning about a fixture backlog. To be fair, as we are still in the middle of a hefty cold snap it was plain for all to see it was never gonna get played. A fixture backlog couldnt be claimed, not exactly like we are over whelmed with games. At least its after the game @ torbett towers. Watch the Sfa will move the game to this friday for us moaning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. Where you been for the last few weeks, the Bahamas? Ok then, looks like it's gonna be frosty this week as well. Maybe just better call of next weekends fixtures now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenoseloon Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Didn't realise we had so many weather experts on the forum. Where you been for the last few weeks, the Bahamas? Ok then, looks like it's gonna be frosty this week as well. Maybe just better call of next weekends fixtures now. Are you daft? Nope, just rying to make a point that it's difficult to get a correct time to call the match off. If the frost last night hadn't materialised but the game had been called off on Friday, all hell would have broken out. Due to all the setting up from Sky and the BBC the game had to be given every chance. The forecast last weekend said we would wake up to 6 inches of snow on Monday morning, it was pishing rain!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts