Heating fault set to force replay call-off

Published on Monday 10 January 2011 18:08

Dunfermline's Scottish Cup replay with Montrose is set to become the latest match to fall foul of the weather after a pitch inspection was arranged for 9.30am today.

East End Park is covered in several inches of snow and, with Dunfermline working to remedy a problem with their undersoil heating in time to ensure Saturday's league match with Dundee can go ahead, they have been unable to switch on the pitch protection system for the cup tie.

Chairman John Yorkston said last night: "There is about four inches of snow on the pitch and we just don't have the time to clear it. We had a problem with the undersoil heating for the Falkirk game on Boxing Day and we are working to repair that with a view to the Dundee game this weekend.

"It really is a combination of circumstances because our stadium manager is also away on a course this week and he is the one who would normally co-ordinate any work on the pitch and in the stadium.

"There is a pitch inspection in the morning but I think everybody at the club feels it is just a formality."

Yorkston also expressed surprise at the timing of the replay, having expected any return match to have been scheduled for next week.

All the other replays required so far have been arranged for either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and that now appears the most likely date for Dunfermline and Montrose.

Yorkston added: "In all honesty, the replay should have been next week like all the others. It may have been our fault, but I was surprised when I read it was to be on Tuesday of this week."

In the unlikely event that the game was to get the go-ahead, Dunfermline are without goalkeeper Greg Paterson, defender Jack Ross and midfielder Steven Bell through injury, with winger Willie Gibson absent because of illness.

Montrose defender Jonathan Crawford remains out with a knee injury, but midfielder Chris Hegarty is back after suspension.