By grabar
December 6 2008

Once again lack of adequate pitch protection has seen another game cancelled at Fir Park as this afternoon’s match with Hearts was called of after a morning pitch inspection. No doubt this could see the club in trouble for breaking SPL rules once again.

After last season's problems with drainage which led to a number of games being cancelled due to heavy rain we were assured in the summer all the remedial work that was needing done had been completed.

Although on a BBC Radio programme manager Mark McGhee did let it slip that the Under Soil Heating had been burst when the drainage was "fixed".

Now we know there is an element of truth in that slip up as we have been found out this afternoon. Many believe that all we require is "adequate pitch protection" but if you read the relevant rule below you will see that it is actually undersoil heating that is required.

H6.6 Each Club shall provide, maintain and use in such manner as to ensure its

efficient and effective operation an adequate winter pitch protection system.

All such systems must be of an underground or under pitch heated type.

Such systems shall be fully utilised by the Home Club before any League

Match where there is a reasonable possibility of its pitch otherwise being

frozen or covered in snow or ice so as to ensure that the League Match is

able to take place at the venue and on the date and time scheduled

notwithstanding such possibility.

If the club is fined heavily then there can be no complaint and we will have to take it on the chin.