Scottish Cup: Morton Chief Questions Games Proceeding Amid Bad Weather

2 March 2018


ByJonathan Sutherland & Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland


Greenock Morton's chief executive has actually required all 4 Scottish Cup quarter-finals to be postponed since of the weather.


The Scottish FA say "there are no strategies to call off" Celtic v Morton and Aberdeen v Kilmarnock on Saturday or either of Sunday's ties.


All weekend Scottish Professional Football League matches have actually been held off.


"I simply look at the blanket weather we have actually had," said Morton's Warren Hawke.


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"We've never seen anything like this before - well I haven't in my twenty years north of the border.


"I just think a blanket postponement for this weekend's components seems the appropriate choice so everybody can get themselves back on track and begin preparing once again."


SFA interim chief executive Andrew McKinlay said: "As it stands there are no plans to abort any of the William Hill Scottish Cup Sixth Round fixtures. The desire and hope is that they proceed as prepared.


"There are no pitch examinations scheduled for these matches at this stage and each host club has actually worked tirelessly to make sure the pitches and the surrounding areas are safe and in the best possible condition.


"We reiterate that we are in continuous close contact with all clubs worried, cops and local authorities. The circumstance will be on a case by case basis."


Morton's conference with Celtic is scheduled to start at 12:30 GMT, with Aberdeen v Kilmarnock at 15:00.


"We have got advocates that we sent out tickets to on Tuesday today and they have not received them yet," Hawke told BBC Scotland.


"We've had phone calls today from our advocates stating, 'I have actually got seven tickets, by the way I can't get out of my drive - we have actually got a foot-and-a-half of snow here. What do I do?'


"It's just so easy to say, 'Game's on, whatever's fine on and around Celtic Park'.


"But you'll have people trying to risk it because they are pass away difficult supporters, they are fanatics and they will try and do whatever to get to the video game.


"We are just ruling out our consumers one bit."


Falkirk supervisor Paul Hartley, whose side see Rangers on Sunday (14:15) after Motherwell host Hearts (16:15), highlighted the need to consider the safety of advocates.


"I think we have actually got to have the concerns of the supporters [on our minds] for sure," stated Hartley.


"Safety is always vital. Maybe sometimes simply wait to the eleventh hour. But we have actually got to be practical too in regards to when we call video games off. You can't wait till the last minute. Our issues is always the security of advocates and our players."


Heavy snow means the Falkirk Stadium runs out bounds and Hartley has actually been forced to take his gamers to Ravenscraig for some indoor training in a quote to get all set for Sunday.


But he makes certain his gamers will be prepared for Rangers if the video game does go ahead.


"It's been difficult in terms of the conditions and gamers taking a trip from different places," Hartley added. "Today we believed we might get on the pitch but we needed to cancel at the last minute. We handled to get Ravenscraig and a full pitch for the next couple of hours. It's not perfect but we just have to get on with it."


McKinley added: "The safety of fans, players and staff, as always, remains our leading concern. We acknowledge that, in any case, some advocates are likely to be left bothered.


"However, we are mindful that a great many have already committed to tickets and journeys strategies and that - in addition to enhancing weather, projections from authorities and the views of most of the clubs included - has caused our present position.


"Any supporter who does choose to take a trip is prompted to do so with care and seek advice from all appropriate public transportation and travel bodies before starting any journey.


"Conditions are of course adjustable and we remain on standby to respond to developments."


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