Scottish Cup: Morton Chief Questions Games Proceeding Amid Bad Weather
2 March 2018
ByJonathan Sutherland & Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland
Greenock Morton's president has called for all 4 Scottish Cup quarter-finals to be postponed due to the fact that of the weather condition.
The Scottish FA state "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 take a look at the blanket weather we have had," stated Morton's Warren Hawke.
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"We've never ever seen anything like this before - well I have not in my twenty years north of the border.
"I simply think a blanket postponement for this weekend's components seems the correct decision so everyone can get themselves back on track and begin preparing again."
SFA interim chief executive Andrew McKinlay stated: "As it stands there are no plans to cancel any of the William Hill Scottish Cup Sixth Round components. The desire and hope is that they proceed as prepared.
"There are no pitch evaluations scheduled for these matches at this phase and each host club has worked tirelessly to guarantee 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 concerned, police and regional authorities. The circumstance will be evaluated frequently on a case by case basis."
Morton's meeting with Celtic is set up to kick off at 12:30 GMT, with Aberdeen v Kilmarnock at 15:00.
"We have actually got supporters 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've got seven tickets, by the method I can't leave my drive - we have actually got a foot-and-a-half of snow here. What do I do?'
"It's so simple to state, 'Game's on, whatever's fine on and around Celtic Park'.
"But you'll have people attempting to risk it because they are pass away tough supporters, they are enthusiasts and they will try and do everything to get to the video game.
"We are simply not considering our customers one little bit."
Falkirk supervisor Paul Hartley, whose side check out Rangers on Sunday (14:15) after Motherwell host Hearts (16:15), highlighted the need to think about the safety of fans.
"I think we have actually got to have the issues of the fans [on our minds] for sure," said Hartley.
"Safety is always critical. Maybe in some cases just wait to the last minute. But we have actually got to be sensible too in terms of when we call video games off. You can't wait until the last minute. Our concerns is always the security of fans and our gamers."
Heavy snow implies the Falkirk Stadium is out of bounds and Hartley has been required to take his gamers to Ravenscraig for some indoor training in a quote to prepare for Sunday.
But he is sure his gamers will be all set for Rangers if the video game does go on.
"It's been difficult in regards to the conditions and players travelling from various locations," Hartley included. "Today we believed we might get on the pitch but we needed to call off at the last minute. We managed to get Ravenscraig and a full pitch for the next few hours. It's not ideal but we just need to get on with it."
McKinley included: "The safety of supporters, players and staff, as always, remains our top concern. We acknowledge that, in any case, some supporters are likely to be left bothered.
"However, we are conscious that an excellent lots of have currently committed to tickets and journeys plans and that - together with enhancing weather condition conditions, forecasts from authorities and the views of the majority of the clubs included - has actually led to our current position.
"Any advocate who does decide to take a trip is urged to do so with care and consult all appropriate public transportation and travel bodies before embarking on any journey.
"Conditions are obviously adjustable and we remain on standby to respond to advancements."
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