Swifts boss would welcome change
Jeanfield Swifts manager Ross Gunnion would welcome changes to avoid a backlog of winter call-offs.
The Perth side were washed out for a second consecutive week when their league fixture with Broxburn last Saturday was postponed.
Gunnion would be in favour of an extended break over winter or believes more astroturf pitches need to be implemented to solve the problem.
“At our level of football, I think you need to look at shifting the season - and it doesn’t need to shift dramatically.
“I definitely think getting away from the December, January and February months is vital. It’s either that or a massive investment is going to be needed in terms of astroturf pitches.
“Each year, over the course of 10 years, it’s getting to the point where more and more games are getting called off.
“It’s not snow and ice as much, it’s the volume of rain which is causing the problem. Astroturf pitches could probably cope.
“We called last week’s game off on the Friday. We could maybe have chanced it to see on Saturday, but there was no doubt in my mind that the game was going to be off. We did a gym session and gave the guys the afternoon off.”
The stop-start nature over the winter months has had an impact on Swifts’ form, Gunnion reckons.
He said: “You don’t want to make excuses but we were five wins on the bounce from November to December when it was unseasonably warm.
“The pitches were good and we were playing teams off the park. Then comes the break with the weather.
“We played Crossgates - how it was on I will never know - then Camelon the week after where conditions were the same.
“The ball wouldn’t run on the ground five yards without it sticking in mud or in a puddle. All of a sudden, it sets you back.
“I’m in favour of getting a season, timing-wise, that allows you to play on better surfaces or a national thing where you look at artificial pitches.”
With the forecast looking slightly more promising for this weekend, Swifts are penned in for an East of Scotland League Premier Division fixture.
Dundonald Bluebell travel to the Perth side and Gunnion said: “Dundonald are a good team who have gone through quite a bit of transition, which happens with the good Fife teams.
“They have probably had an indifferent season but they are dangerous with some cracking, big money players.
“I see them being a team who will look to finish the season in the top four or five. I think we have the ability to push ahead of Dundonald.”
Gunnion, who revealed defender Aaron Whitehead has penned an extended deal with the club, hopes to have a strong squad to choose from.
There are a couple of concerns over striker Reg McLaren and midfielder Scott Smith, but they should get the green light.
“We’re looking okay but do have a couple of niggles,” Gunnion said. “Reg with a hamstring and Scott has had a thigh strain.
“We’ll hopefully be going into the game with a full squad. And fingers crossed we can put together a performance that goes and beats Dundonald.”
At our level of football, I think you need to look at shifting the season...