Cup call-off was a shambles, blasts EK chairman

East Kilbride Thistle chairman Peter Kelsall has branded the decision to call-off Saturday’s Scottish Junior Cup tie less than an hour before kick-off “a shambles.”

The Jags were due to face Super Premier giants Glenafton in a much-anticipated fourth-round tie at the Showpark.

But with away fans well on their way to the ground and Thistle’s preparations for hosting the game underway, the referee took issue with one corner of the pitch, which he deemed unplayable after overnight frost.

Both Thistle and Glenafton disagreed with the decision, while the hosts also requested that kickoff be delayed.

This fell on deaf ears and the teams will go again on Saturday. Kelsall (left) was fuming with the decision and feels sorry for the fans who were on their way to the ground. He told the News: “It was a fiasco. “The Glenafton committee were absolutely raging, but I’ve also got to thank them, as they felt the park was playable as well. They couldn’t believe he called it off.

“They said no fault could be placed on us.

“Despite asking the referee to delay kick-off for half an hour to see if it would help, he wouldn’t budge.

“Things like this always costs the club money, but, more importantly, it inconvenienced the fans, especially two bus-loads of Glenafton supporters who had to turn around and head home.

“Our sponsors, The Montgomerie Arms, had laid on hospitality, too — and I’m not forgetting our own fans who were inconvenienced as well. “It was a shambles all round. “Hopefully, we go again this Saturday and there are no problems.”