 Tuesday, 30th Nov 2010 22:25 by Clive Whittingham QPR’s weekend match at Hull City is one of a number of games due to take place this weekend being threatened by the snow currently sweeping across the country. NewsHull’s new KC Stadium has a state of the art under-soil heating system that is having its temperature steadily increased during this week to melt the snow gradually without waterlogging or damaging the grass. The ground staff remain confident that the pitch will be playable, but City have lost games on this ground in the past to the dreaded “public safety” concerns regarding surrounding roads and pavements – most notably a Premiership match with Chelsea in January. KC Stadium general manager John Cooper told the Hull Daily Mail: “We're quite cool about the whole thing at this stage, we don't foresee any problems. The forecast at the moment is for freezing temperatures, rather than more heavy snow, and providing that doesn't change, we're confident the game will go ahead. If things stay as they are at the moment we should have the pitch clear of snow by Thursday. We've also got plans in place for in and around the stadium this weekend so hopefully there will be no issue of calling the game off. We're very positive. "Under-soil heating is more of a preventative measure than a cure. It's a very careful process. We kept the heating off all of last week and allowed a frost. For the next couple of days there will be no-one allowed near the pitch to avoid doing any damage. The pitch temperature was around two to three degrees but we're slowly upping that now. It'll build as the week goes on and by Thursday we'll be looking to have the temperature up to ten or 12 degrees. That will allow the snow covering to thaw out slowly and all being well, give us a clear pitch well before the weekend. "For the Chelsea game last season there was a huge dump of snow on the Friday night and Saturday morning. Safety then became an issue going to and from the stadium and that was outside of our control. We're having a meeting with Humberside Police to plan for every eventuality this weekend, purely as a precaution, but it's a situation we will monitor as the week goes on." It has long been LFW’s stance that if a pitch is playable, then a game should go ahead. Supporters should be left to make their own minds up about what is and isn’t safe on the roads or around the ground and the health and safety culture that grips our country can just bloody well keep its nose out of our football. One game definitely re-arranged is our February clash with Reading at the Madejski Stadium which has been brought forward by 24 hours for live Sky coverage. This fixture, originally planned for Saturday, February 5, is a favourite of the broadcasters and has twice been screened live in recent seasons. It will now be played on Friday, February 4. Meanwhile striker Rowan Vine, who played five times for Hull earlier this season without scoring, says he has been frozen out of the picture by Neil Warnock after moving to Brentford on a one month loan deal. Vine told the Fulham Chronicle: “He's made it clear I won't be involved in a team situation. I haven't been involved since the summer – even in training. I don't feel part of it at all. I've got a lot of friends there and the fans deserve success. I'm still think I'm good enough to play for them. I have trained with most of the squad before so ability-wise I know I could do a job. But there's no point crying over spilt milk."
Loan WatchAngelo Balanta will not play again until April after undergoing ankle surgery. The 20-year-old Colombian is midway through a season long loan at MK Dons, where he has scored three goals in 14 starts and three substitute appearances. The last of those goals was a fine 25 yard strike against Brentford at Griffin Park a fortnight ago but he has not played since and Rangers have today confirmed that he has gone in for surgery. Balanta is due to miss four months of action and will undergo his rehabilitation with Milton Keynes. This is bad news for Balanta who really needed a good year in league One to kick start his faltering QPR career. There is better news for Josh Parker however who played the first half of Antigua and Barbuda’s 1-0 win against Guyana on Monday. Parker played a full 90 minutes in a 3-1 defeat by Jamaica at the weekend and those two results mean Antigua must now beat Guadeloupe on Wednesday to progress from Group I of the Digicel Cup. Group winners progress to the semi-finals of the competition. Mikele Leigertwood has not travelled to play this time as he attempts to settle back into first team football at Reading.
Championship Shorts- Scunthorpe hope their recent injury crisis is about to ease with Sam Togwell and Gary Thompson ready to start after weekend bench appearances. The Iron are still without David Mirfin, Niall Canavan, Michael Raynes and Michael Collins and have lost their last four consecutive home matches. - Roy Keane says he is relaxed about his future at Ipswich. The Tractor Boys have lost their last four games to slip out of play off contention but face a League Cup quarter final tie against West Brom on Wednesday. Keane said: “Let's not be kidding around with that, it is about getting results and we need to start that quickly. I'm just focused on the job and hopefully staying in the job until the summer. But if you're losing football matches that can be changed." - Portsmouth are confident of getting their notorious Fratton Park playing surface through this week of snow and ice to successfully stage Saturday’s game against Burnley. With no under-soil heating Pompey are often the first to postpone in such circumstances but a club spokesman said today: “'Frost covers are protecting the Fratton Park pitch ahead of Saturday`s npower Championship clash with Burnley. The covers were laid last Thursday in readiness for the current cold snap, and at present the pitch is playable.” - Leicester are likely to be the big movers in the January transfer window with new owners and Sven Goran Ericsson at the helm. The Foxes have their eye on Everton striker James Vaughan who is currently on loan at Crystal Palace and are preparing a £500,000 bid to try and tempt the Toffees to sell him permanently. - Marseille are ready to return to Burnley for full back Tyrone Mears after first choice Cesar Azpilicueta was ruled out for six months. Mears made four appearances for the French side in the 2008/09 season and scored a fine goal against Derby at Turf Moor at the weekend. - Watford have been linked with a move for AFC Wimbledon midfielder Sammy Moore but face competition from Peterborough and Colchester. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
You need to login in order to post your comments |
   Blogs 31 bloggersPort Vale Polls |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
