Moore delivers icy blast after U’s postponement

Jan 6 2009 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

FROST covers should be a compulsory feature at grounds throughout the Football League, argues Ronnie Moore

The Tranmere manager believes full pitch covers offer clubs the most effective and affordable protection available against losing fixtures to cold weather.

Moore says he is confident their use would have prevented the late postponement of Colchester United’s League One game with Tranmere last Saturday.

The match was called off by referee Gavin Ward at 1.45pm after an area of the unprotected pitch failed to thaw out following an overnight frost. Hundreds of Tranmere fans made the 10-hour round-trip to Essex for nothing, not to mention thousands of Colchester supporters who had started their journey from closer to home.

Moore said: “What happened on Saturday was unacceptable. I think every club at this level should be made to have a set of pitch covers. I see no reason why such a measure could not be introduced.”

For most Football League clubs, the undersoil heating systems used by Premiership clubs are simply too expensive. But frost protection covers offer a more affordable alternative. Tranmere’s second hand set, which protects the pitch against temperatures of – 5°, has repaid its modest cost many times over.

Moore said: “It is no wonder the game at Colchester was called off when the only covers on the pitch were in one goalmouth. The covers do make a big difference. You could see on Saturday that the area of the six-yard box that was covered was soft, while the rest of the area was hard.”

Moore also believes home clubs should be obliged to reimburse the travel expenses of away fans when games are called off at a late hour.

He reckons Colchester should make the gesture of paying the travel costs of the Rovers fans who made the journey to last Saturday’s aborted game.

Those on the official club coach paid £29.50 while supporters travelling by car and rail probably paid more.

“I think the club should be forced to reimburse fans when the games are called off like that, especially when those clubs have not done a proper job,” Moore said.

“You would have thought, with a brand-new ground, that Colchester would have had some pitch protection.”

The frost covers at Prenton Park have been on the pitch throughout the current cold spell and are unlikely to be lifted ahead of Saturday’s League One game against Peterborough United – unless there is a significant thaw.

Meanwhile frozen training grounds mean Rovers are being forced to make use of alternative indoor facilities while squad numbers are depleted.

Moore has put off plans to release teenage front man Terry Gornell on loan to Accrington Stanley.

Accrington manager John Coleman wants Gornell for a second spell after the 18-year-old impressed while playing 11 games and scoring four goals with the League Two side during October and November.

But with Chris Greenacre facing a further two months on the sidelines with damage to a foot ligament and Craig Curran still battling to overcome a back injury, Moore is short of alternatives in attack.

The manager said: “I spoke to John last week and he wants to take Terry and (defender) Luke Waterfall. But the way things are with numbers of the moment is it just not possible.

“John Coleman understands that and the good news about Craig Curran is that he’s stepping up his training this week and may be ready to play a game in about 10 days rather than the three or four weeks we thought it might take.”

Midfielder Adnan Ahmed is back in training the Tranmere after his loan spell with Mansfield came to an end following a change of manager at Field Mill.

Rovers’ hopes of signing Stoke City’s Ryan Shotton on loan for a second spell this season have been put on hold while the defender negotiates new contract terms with the Premier League club.

Meanwhile, Tranmere’s Lancashire FA Youth Cup tie at Wigan Athletic yesterday was postponed because of the cold weather.