Hearts lodge complaint with SPL over 'late' postponement

Hearts expressed their anger yesterday after their match against Dundee United at Tannadice was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The Tynecastle side said they had no issue with the decision to call the game off but were disappointed at the lateness of the decision after heavy overnight rain led to surface water on the pitch. An inspection had been scheduled for 11.45am.

David Southern, the Hearts managing director, said: "We entirely understand the anger and frustration of our supporters, particularly those that travel from across the UK for our matches.

"We'll be writing to the Scottish Premier League to outline our concerns and to understand the process involved in this postponement. Our concern centres around the fact that the weather in Dundee was extremely poor overnight and that the decision to call the game off came as no surprise in the circumstances.

"We would have welcomed a much earlier decision to try and avoid this outcome.

"We remain entirely supportive of Dundee United and the football authorities, but we must ensure we do everything in our power to remember that supporters are the heartbeat of our game and we must treat them accordingly."

United already had a backlog of fixtures following the coldest December on record. They have played 17 Clydesdale Bank Premier League games this season, four less than some teams.

No new date for the game with Hearts has been arranged but United have no free midweeks until March. They face Ross County in the Scottish Cup on Tuesday, then St Mirren (26 January), Inverness (2 February), Hamilton (16 February) and St Johnstone (22 February). February 9 is an international date.