Turner talks about Late Postponement

Hereford United manager Graham Turner has expressed his views over the late postponement of this afternoon's League One game at Scunthorpe to the Hereford Times.

“I was about 10 minutes from the ground when I first had any indication at all that there was a danger it might be called off,” he said.

However he said he agreed with the referees decision.

“I’m looking for someone to blame but I can see what has happened – the covers were left on for as long as possible, although we thought that they had been taken off first thing this morning and everything was OK,” he continued.

“But when the referee saw it, he had grave doubts about the safety of it and called the two managers in together. The common-sense decision was reached that it would have been dangerous for players in that particular area.

“Plus, the temperature is still below zero and parts of the ground are beginning to get quite firm and very slippery. I think it would have deteriorated further throughout the afternoon so in the end the referee has probably taken the right decision.

“There is the question of whether the pitch should have been looked at at 9am this morning and the forecast taken into consideration.

“We felt we did everything absolutely spot on last week with the Leeds inspection. It was done before the Leeds supporters left.

“I don’t think that there was any indication to the referee that there was any doubt at all about the surface so he has been left in a bit of a quandary. He has taken everybody’s word that it was playable and finally it is not.”

Turner also spoke of the fans misery at having arrived at the ground only to find the game called off.

“My daughter has driven me up this morning and I realise the length that supporters travel to get to these games,” he continued.

“There is going to be a busload of very disappointed, disgruntled supporters and I can understand that.”

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