Killie FC won't cough up for freeze out

Dec 12 2008 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

KILMARNOCK will not be coughing up compensation to travelling Aberdeen fans in the wake of Saturday’s big freeze fiasco.

Chairman Michael Johnston said he warned the SPL and Aberdeen of a potential problem at Rugby Park on Friday afternoon.

The chairman added: “Obviously if the SPL want to issue a fine after they get our explanation, then that is up to them.

“But it is not my intention to compensate travelling fans, who should have been warned by their own club not to travel until after the pitch inspection on Saturday morning.”

The chairman has received a letter from SPL bigwigs demanding an explanation from the club about Saturday’s unplayable frozen pitch.

Mr Johnston told the Standard: “The bottom line is that it was down to a judgement call on the part of the head groundsman after taking weather forecasts into account.

“These weather forecasts turned out to be wrong and by the time it became clear they were wrong it was too late to make any difference.”

Killie’s undersoil heating systems had not been on for some time because the club had been away to Hamilton the previous Saturday.

And because the frost was already in the ground at the beginning of last week, the club had to wait for a thaw before the system could be effective.

The chairman added: “The forecast did say a thaw would come in time, but it didn’t, and although the system was put on Friday and the covers put in place, these measures proved to be too late.

“I was on the pitch on several occasions on Friday afternoon though, and the pitch looked as if it might be all right, but we had another severe frost overnight into Saturday and that’s what ultimately caused the problem.”

The chairman insisted there was no financial constraints in running the system, no problems with the system’s effectiveness and no issues with neighbour complaints.

He said: “It was simply a judgement call, which turned out to be wrong.”

The chairman added that the system is unique to the SPL and Kilmarnock is regularly praised for having the best pitch in Scotland.

“We’ve not had a call-off since February 2003, and I think that record speaks for itself,” he added.

“The system is particularly effective at getting rid of water, and rain is much more of a problem in this part of the world than prolonged frost.

“Everyone at Kilmarnock was really disappointed at the game being called off, the players were all raring to go as we need to get points on the board.”