Huge backlog, but McLean insists situation 'not critical'

"It is not a critical situation at present," stressed McLean. "We play 370-plus games in a season and at the moment we have played 129 out of 242 league games and 78 out of 134 cup ties which represents over 55 per cent of total games. That is obviously healthy because New Year is halfway through the season.

"There are still 20 weekends remaining plus seven or eight midweeks in April and May when games can be played in natural light. We also have opportunities to play floodlit games in March."

McLean took time to reflect on last season when, despite games not being postponed because of snow and ice, there were a total of 138 games not played on the date originally scheduled for, mainly because of flooding.

"We do not have a severe backlog but if we were to miss the whole of January then circumstances could change," added McLean. "A plus for the management committee of the East of Scotland League is that the format of the League Cup has yet to be decided. It could be organised in mini-sections, or home and away, or simply a straight knock-out, so that decision will affect the number of fixtures outstanding."

The club with the potential for the biggest backlog is Whitehill Welfare, who have played only six league games in comparison with other teams including Edinburgh University and Coldstream who have already completed 14 Central Taxis Premier Division fixtures.

Gary Aitchison, the Whitehill manager, explained: "We drew two Scottish Cup ties with Wigtown & Bladnoch and also Threave Rovers which meant replays and then we had a game against Gala Fairydean abandoned because of a serious injury to a Gala player. If it had not been for these three additional games then we would not have been in too bad a position in respect of league games.

"Our training pitch at Rosewell has about two feet of snow on it so we have been fortunate to get the use of Dalkeith Sports Centre which means that we have been training every week. We are trying to keep the players interested but it is very frustrating although every team is in the same boat.

"One positive aspect is that Banji Koya, who was injured for most of the season prior to the snow arriving, is now fully fit and raring to go."

The worst-hit club is undoubtedly Easthouses Lily whose last game was on 7 November when they trounced Ormiston 7-1.

Lily manager Dave McQueenie said: "This is the worst spell of weather I have ever encountered either as a player or as a manager. It has been horrendous trying to get suitable training facilities and all we have been doing is ticking over.

"This lay-off is actually longer than our close-season. Maybe there is a case for a winter shut down but who knows? At present I would say 'yes', although winters are not usually as bad as this."

Mike Lawson, the longest serving manager in the East of Scotland League having managed both Whitehill Welfare and Spartans from season 1992-93, has also never experienced anything like the current situation.

"When I was playing with Berwick Rangers I recall that in season 1981-82 we had a period of about six or seven weeks without a game," he said. "It will be like starting the season again when the pitches become playable. We were training at Portobello beach on Saturday and there were at least another three football teams and a rugby club all doing the same.

"We have also been using gyms and basically trying to keep all the players very positive and encourage them to do a bit on their own. However, nothing takes the place of playing football and when we return it will be like going into the unknown."

McLean however remains confident that, come the middle of May, all the outstanding games will have been played.

"There are various ways we can alleviate the pressure, especially with midweek fixtures and floodlit games," he said. "However, we also don't want teams to travel from or to Gretna or Stirling in midweek so we have to consider these aspects.

"As I have already said, there is no panic at present although I am keeping my fingers crossed for a rise in the temperature – and soon."