Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Seasiders Clash In Doubt

Blackpool's home tie with Liverpool scheduled for Boxing Day is already in danger of being postponed because of the adverse weather conditions.

The Premier League calendar was decimated at the weekend following the big freeze which has swept across the country, with Liverpool's clash with Fulham and Blackpool's game against Tottenham falling victim.

The pair are due to face each other on Sunday but with the weather showing no signs of abating, Tangerines acting chief executive Karl Oyston is in talks with the league regarding the game at Bloomfield Road.

"We can almost certainly guarantee the pitch will be playable but it is the prevailing conditions once the covers have been removed and whether the pitch will freeze before the end of the game taking place," Oyston told Sky Sports News.

"That is one we are talking to the Premier League about to see what their standpoint and inspection protocol will be."

Blackpool has already had games against Spurs and Manchester United called off because they do not have undersoil heating.

Meanwhile, the Premier League is confident the postponements at the weekend will not lead to a serious pile-up of games at the end of the season.

A spokesman said: "Our football department will already have contingency dates in mind and will work closely with the affected clubs to get new dates agreed as quickly as possible."

Blackpool versus United has been rearranged to the last week in January and other matches can take place if and when clubs are knocked out of the FA Cup.

There is also the possibility for some ties to be played in weeks usually reserved for European games.

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