Postponing Accrington Stanley match ‘was only option’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Postponing Accrington Stanley match ‘was only option’

7:16pm Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in Football By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

ACCRINGTON Stanley managing director Rob Heys has sympathised with the supporters at the Crown Ground last night – but insists the late postponement was the only correct decision.

Referee Chris Sarginson called last night’s League Two clash off between Stanley and Rotherham a little more than 15 minutes before kick-off, after torrential rain left the pitch unplayable.

Stanley have spent more than £100,000 on improving their pitch over the past two years, including drainage facilities, but Heys insists the amount of rain in just a couple of hours gave it no chance.

He said: “It was something we just weren’t expecting.

“You feel really sorry for Rotherham fans because they are the ones who have travelled. Having said that, one of our season ticket holders has come up from Bristol.

“We will make an announcement with regards the rearranged game, I’m sure it will be quick because the Football League are keen to get them rearranged as quickly as possible.

“It is incredible. Last week we had 80millimetres of rain in two days and the pitch took it and held up fine. Going back two years, if we had 3 or 4mm of rain we were in trouble. It had 10 times as much two days in a row and it was fine.

“Last night it went from being dry to torrential rain in no space of time and that water has sat on the surface.

“The sad thing is since he made the decision to call the game off it hasn’t rained a drop since.

“It is reassuring to know you aren’t the only ones that are off and that used to be problem.

“It used to be embarrassing because it was Accrington off again. It is disappointing but you can understand the decision.”

There was a delay last night between the referee inspecting the pitch and the match officially being announced but Heys insists it was just a case of putting contingency plans in place.

He said: “It is hard for a club our size because you are losing all the income but look at the pitch and you have to say it was the right decision.

“The two managers are in agreement. It certainly would not have suited us, Paul Cook likes to play good, passing football and there is no way we were playing good passing football on that pitch.

“It was mainly trying to get things in place. A couple of years ago, when we had all these problems with the pitch, we had contingency plans in place now, with all the money spent, we probably rested on our laurels a little bit and expected the pitch to be fine.

“When the referee decided he wants to call a game off, you have got to make contingency plans and get people in place to hand the tickets out for the rearranged game.”

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