Safety first means fixtures bite the dust in cold snap

ROTHERHAM UNITED chairman Tony Stewart insists there is 'no panic' at the Don Valley Stadium despite the Big Freeze leading to the postponement of the club's fifth consecutive game.

The Millers were one of six Yorkshire clubs to yesterday learn their weekend fixture had fallen victim to the Arctic weather, leaving only Hull City, Barnsley, Middlesbrough and Leeds United with a chance of playing tomorrow.

All four will spend the next 24 hours anxiously following the weather forecast with further snow showers likely to put the games in doubt.

For Rotherham, a blank Saturday has become a depressingly familiar fact of life with the League Two promotion chasers' last outing being the 4-2 win at Bradford City on December 12.

The absence of undersoil heating at the League Two club's temporary Don Valley home together with the weather-related safety issues that are affecting the majority of clubs up-and-down the country means tomorrow's scheduled meeting with Bournemouth in Sheffield was one of the first to be postponed.

Chairman Stewart said: "We don't feel any bitterness towards the Don Valley because this situation is hitting everyone. We may not be getting the revenue in right now but there is no problem because we are a well- managed club."

Chief operating officer Paul Douglas admitted that, without the financial support of Stewart and the club's shareholders, the Millers would be having 'serious' problems.

Other games to fall victim to the weather include Sheffield United's trip to Watford and Doncaster Rovers' visit to Preston North End, a postponement that manager Sean O'Driscoll last night described as "sensible".

Sheffield Wednesday's home game against Peterborough United was also called off despite the pitch being playable due to Hillsborough's undersoil heating, the problem being the areas immediately surrounding the stadium being covered in a thick blanket of snow. This, in turn, has made the roads and pavements in the vicinity treacherous so the game has been called off on safety grounds.

Owls chief executive, Nick Parker, said: "Obviously, the safety of our supporters is the club's main concern in these circumstances and we would not want to put fans in danger by encouraging them to use icy roads and pavements.

"The areas surrounding Hillsborough are covered in snow and ice. It is highly unlikely these areas could be cleared to the extent that would allow fans to come to the game and be guaranteed of their safety."

Yorkshire's only Premier League representative, Hull City, remain hopeful of their televised lunchtime meeting with Chelsea at the KC Stadium going ahead.

Undersoil heating means the pitch is fine with the only concern being a further downfall of snow making the surrounding area unsafe.

Stadium manager John Cooper said: "We are more than confident the game will go ahead, certainly if the game had been played (yesterday) it would have gone ahead.

"The weather forecast does keep changing, so we have to do the same. We are calling in favours from everywhere we can to make sure that the walkways are cleared and that every other aspect on the safety side of things is in place."

It is a similar story at Elland Road where Leeds staff and officials have been working around the clock to get the fixture with Wycombe Wanderers on.

Tractors have been employed to clear snow from the area, while the undersoil heating has protected the pitch in overnight temperatures that have fallen as low as minus six this week.

Manager Simon Grayson said: "I know the staff are working hard at Elland Road and, from what I understand, unless we have a major snowfall between now and Saturday, the game will go-ahead without a problem."

As with those attending Hull's top-flight meeting with Chelsea, Leeds are advising supporters to allow extra journey time.

In the Championship, Barnsley have been told their away game at Coventry City should beat the inclement weather. The Sky Blues' Ricoh Arena home has undersoil heating and is located close to a motorway, while the surrounding areas have also been gritted to allow access to various retail outlets.

Anthony Mundy, facilities director at the Ricoh Arena, said: "We have had a few telephone calls from supporters asking if the game is going ahead.

"The ground staff have been working on the pitch and the undersoil heating has been switched on for the last few days so we don't expect any problems.

"We have been concentrating on clearing the main access routes and we are confident that barring any significant changes in the weather conditions that the match will take place.

"We would encourage supporters to give themselves extra time for their journeys."

Middlesbrough are due to host Swansea City at the Riverside Stadium.