Scottish Cup: Morton Chief Questions Games Proceeding Amid Bad Weather

2 March 2018


& Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland


Greenock Morton's primary executive has required all four 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 cancel" Celtic v Morton and Aberdeen v Kilmarnock on Saturday or either of Sunday's ties.


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


"I just take a look at the blanket weather condition we have had," said Morton's Warren Hawke.


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"We've never seen anything like this before - well I have not in my 20 years north of the border.


"I simply believe a blanket post ponement for this weekend's components seems the correct choice so everyone can get themselves back on track and start planning once again."


SFA interim chief executive Andrew McKinlay said: "As it stands there are no strategies 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 inspections arranged for these matches at this phase and each host club has actually worked tirelessly to guarantee the pitches and the surrounding areas are safe and in the finest possible condition.


"We reiterate that we remain in consistent close contact with all clubs concerned, authorities and local authorities. The situation will be reviewed frequently on a case by case basis."


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


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


"We've had phone calls today from our supporters stating, 'I've got 7 tickets, by the way I can't get out of my drive - we've got a foot-and-a-half of snow here. What do I do?'


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


"But you'll have people trying to risk it because they are die difficult supporters, they are enthusiasts and they will attempt and do whatever to get to the video game.


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


Falkirk manager Paul Hartley, whose side visit Rangers on Sunday (14:15) after Motherwell host Hearts (16:15), highlighted the need to think about the safety of advocates.


"I believe we have got to have the issues of the advocates [on our minds] for sure," stated Hartley.


"Safety is constantly vital. Maybe in some cases just 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 till the last minute. Our concerns is constantly the safety of advocates and our players."


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 makes sure his players will be all set for Rangers if the game does go ahead.


"It's been challenging in terms of the conditions and players travelling from various locations," Hartley added. "Today we believed we could get on the pitch but we had to abort at the last minute. We handled to get Ravenscraig and a complete pitch for the next couple of hours. It's not ideal however we simply have to get on with it."


McKinley added: "The safety of supporters, players and staff, as always, stays our top priority. We acknowledge that, in any case, some fans are most likely to be left inconvenienced.


"However, we are mindful that a fantastic lots of have actually currently devoted to tickets and journeys plans which - together with improving weather, projections from authorities and the views of most of the clubs included - has actually caused our present position.


"Any advocate who does decide to take a trip is urged to do so with care and speak with all appropriate public transportation and travel bodies before embarking on any journey.


"Conditions are of course changeable and we stay on standby to react to developments."


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