Deep freeze

Latics fear missing out on Boxing Day pay-day

A “massive financial blow” is looming for Athletic says chief executive Alan Hardy.

He was speaking about the possibility that this Sunday’s Boxing Day clash — traditionally one of the biggest pay-days of the season — against Carlisle United might be called off due to the weather.

Temperatures are not forecast to rise above -3C before Thursday and after that, barely above zero.

With the Boundary Park pitch currently solid with frost, the chances of playing a first fixture in a month will hit the buffers.

“We can’t control the weather,” said Hardy, who has already seen a home game with Swindon two weeks ago postponed.

“If the cold spell continues much into the New Year, we could be playing two matches every week between now and the end of the season.”

Athletic were unhappy with the timing of Saturday’s postponement at MK Dons, the third successive match to fall foul of the cold snap.

The team coach which set off at 8am in poor weather had reached the Midlands by the time the game was postponed following a 9.30am pitch inspection on the morning of the game.

“It puts the safety of the players at risk when driving down in those conditions, along with anyone else who had set off,” said Hardy, who felt that an earlier inspection would have been more appropriate given the minimal chances of the pitch at stadium:mk being fit for play.

“A lot of games were called off at a late stage and the Football League need to look at how to prevent such situations arising.”

Midfielder Jon Worthington made his debut for Fleetwood Town and played alongside fellow Athletic loan man Sean Gregan as the play-off chasing Cod Army drew 1-1 at home with Newport County in the Blue Square Premier.

The only game to survive the weather in npower League One at the weekend was Exeter City’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Jamie Cureton scored twice as the Grecians hammered their opponents 5-1 at St James Park, four of the home team’s goals arriving in the second half.

Wednesday, who have now lost eight league games so far this season, remain second in the table, four points clear of Athletic in seventh, but having played three games more.




ATHLETIC players and management staff were present at Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre today for a signing session (start 2.30pm).