Friday 16 January 2015 20:48, UK
Motherwell have been forced to postpone Saturday’s Scottish Premiership match at home to Kilmarnock because their Fir Park Stadium has suffered storm damage.
Several parts of the ground have been deemed unsafe after recent heavy winds and the match will be re-scheduled after Motherwell secured the agreement of Kilmarnock and the SPFL.
Motherwell’s safety and facilities manager Alan Marshall said: “Some of the aluminium facings on the side of the east stand have been blown off by the wind, making the adjacent panels unsecure.
“Should any others come detached while people are in the stadium, it could pose a real threat to the safety of not only the players and officials on the park, but the spectators inside the ground.
“We have tried everything we can to rectify the issue but have been thwarted by either more high winds or snow.
“Sadly, it would be impossible to not only secure the panels that are visibly hanging loose, but also to check all others in the same area in time for kick-off on Saturday. If another fell and hit someone, the consequences would be unthinkable.
“Regretfully, I have had to insist on the match being postponed to allow us sufficient time to make safe that particular concern, and other areas of more minor storm damage.”
The club’s manager Ian Baraclough said: “It’s frustrating but, at the same time, the health and safety of everyone inside the ground has got to be the number one consideration.
“We’ll have the players in training tomorrow (Saturday) and we have already begun preparing for this Wednesday night’s match against Celtic.”
Elsewhere, Elgin City’s Division Two game at home to Clyde has also been postponed, because of a waterlogged pitch.
