big boys ‘Nothing we could have done’, says County chief
Ross County last night defended their actions in the lead-up to the controversial postponement of their home match against Hibernian.
With hundreds of Hibs fans already in transit, the Highland Premiership club faced criticism over the timing of the 10am pitch inspection and subsequent 10.30 postponement.
Hibs’ squad and management had travelled north the day before and some club officials were present at the Global Energy Stadium when matchday referee Iain Sneddon confirmed that the pitch was unplayable.
It is understood Hibs, given their travel expenses, made it clear they were keen to avoid an early inspection and give the game every chance of being played.
But ref Sneddon took around 30 minutes to conclude the game could not go ahead.
County have already faced similar call-offs at Dundee and Livingston this season.
The Ross-shire area was hit by torrential rain through the night which was forecast to continue until early yesterday evening.
Ross County CEO Steven Ferguson stressed that his club had followed the correct process and contacted the SPFL as soon as they knew there was an issue with the playing surface.
Ferguson said the timing of the inspection was a matter for the SPFL and SFA, given their part in arranging for a referee to attend the ground.
He said: “With the torrential rain through the night, we were at the ground before first light and phoned the SPFL immediately in the morning.
“Two-thirds of the pitch was OK, but the goalmouths were unplayable.
“The match referee came and did the pitch inspection.
“Hibs, having travelled up, were kept well informed and were here for the pitch inspection. There’s no more we could have done.
“We were here at 7am and we contacted the SPFL first thing. We asked for a pitch inspection first thing in the morning.
“If they wanted to come at 7am, they could have.
“The pitch was very much unplayable by 10.30am and the rain was forecast to continue for the next six or seven hours. It was the correct decision. Hibs had travelled up here the day before, so obviously they, like us, wanted every opportunity for the game to go ahead.
“But the pitch just wasn’t playable The SPFL gave us the time for the pitch inspection and they need to get in touch with the SFA who run the referees’ side. 10am was the time we were given.
“We had contacted them first thing in the morning to say there was a doubt about the pitch.”
County, meanwhile, were left counting the cost of lost hospitality spending.
The Dingwall club were due to have 300 people eating in their lounges prior to the match. The club sent the meals to local charities and good causes instead.
Nick Montgomery insisted Hibs were gutted to see the match fall despite gaining an advantage on rivals Hearts.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Edinburgh derby at Easter Road, the Dingwall postponement means Hibs will have had an 11-day break from competitive action.
Hearts faced St Mirren yesterday and will have just four days to recover and prepare for the short flit across the city.
Montgomery said: “We had our breakfast this morning and knew the rain had been pretty heavy through the night.
“Then we got a notification that the referee was going to inspect the pitch at 10.
“To be honest, it already sounded like there was a bit of water in one of the goalmouths, which was an issue. Around 9.30, we heard about the pitch inspection.
“Obviously it’s disappointing because you do the preparation, the travel and the overnight stay.
“But that’s out of our control. These things happen. As much as we’re disappointed about it, these things happen.
“We go back now and train tomorrow, adapt the session a little bit. But the boys are really disappointed because they were ready for the game.
“Playing the game today on a heavy pitch, you never know what the outcome would have been.
“So yes, we should be fresh for Hearts. But the boys want to play games, they wanted to get it done today.
“We do have a small squad, still have quite a thin squad. So we prepare as well as we can.”