Scottish Cup: Morton Chief Questions Games Going Ahead Amid Bad Weather


2 March 2018


ByJonathan Sutherland & Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland


Greenock Morton's president has required all 4 Scottish Cup quarter-finals to be delayed since of the weather.


The Scottish FA say "there are no strategies to abort" 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 delayed.


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


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


"I just believe a blanket post ponement for this weekend's components seems the right 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 call off any of the William Hill Scottish Cup Sixth Round fixtures. The desire and hope is that they continue as prepared.


"There are no pitch evaluations set up for these matches at this stage and each host club has actually worked relentlessly to make sure the pitches and the surrounding locations are safe and in the very best possible condition.


"We reiterate that we are in constant close contact with all clubs concerned, police and local authorities. The circumstance will be examined routinely on a case by case basis."


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


"We have got fans that we sent tickets to on Tuesday this week and they haven't gotten them yet," Hawke told BBC Scotland.


"We've had telephone call today from our advocates stating, 'I've 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 individuals attempting to risk it since they are die tough fans, they are fanatics and they will try and do everything to get to the game.


"We are simply ruling out our clients one little bit."


Falkirk manager Paul Hartley, whose side check out Rangers on Sunday (14:15) after Motherwell host Hearts (16:15), highlighted the requirement to think about the security of supporters.


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


"Safety is constantly critical. Maybe often simply wait to the eleventh hour. But we have got to be practical too in regards to when we call games off. You can't wait until the last minute. Our issues is always the security of supporters and our players."


Heavy snow implies the Falkirk Stadium runs out bounds and Hartley has actually been forced to take his players to Ravenscraig for some indoor training in a bid to prepare yourself for Sunday.


But he is sure his players will be ready for Rangers if the video game does proceed.


"It's been difficult in regards to the conditions and players taking a trip from various places," Hartley added. "Today we believed we could get on the pitch but we needed to abort at the last minute. We handled to get Ravenscraig and a full pitch for the next few hours. It's not ideal however we just need to get on with it."


McKinley added: "The safety of advocates, players and personnel, as constantly, stays our leading priority. We acknowledge that, in any case, some fans are most likely to be left inconvenienced.


"However, we are conscious that an excellent lots of have currently devoted to tickets and travels strategies and that - in addition to enhancing weather, projections from authorities and the views of the majority of the clubs involved - has actually caused our current position.


"Any supporter who does choose to travel is urged to do so with care and seek advice from all pertinent public transportation and travel bodies before starting any journey.


"Conditions are naturally adjustable and we remain on standby to react to developments."


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