Hearts Ladbrokes SPFL Premiership fixture at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday lunchtime is subject to a pitch inspection at 7.30am. A statement from the Highland club said:
As a result of the extreme weather conditions currently hitting the Highlands, early discussions took place this morning with Hearts FC and Police Scotland.
With fan travel high on our list of priorities and paramount in our thoughts we spoke to the SPFL to request as early a pitch inspection as possible with regard to our home game versus Hearts FC scheduled for 12:30pm tomorrow.
Further to these discussions the SPFL decided that, in order to give the game the best opportunity to go ahead, a 7:30am inspection be called tomorrow morning.
Fans of both clubs can be assured our ground staff will do their utmost in the face of the prevailing weather conditions to ensure the game goes ahead if at all possible.
If there are any further developments we will alert fans of both clubs as soon as possible.
The timing of the pitch inspection is unfortunate for those Hearts supporters travelling to Inverness by train on Saturday morning. The first train leaves Edinburgh Waverley at 5.30am with the next departure due at 7.28am – two minutes before the scheduled pitch inspection. And this train doesn’t arrive in Inverness until 12.22pm. Given the 12.30pm kick-off (for the benefits of satellite television) surely if there was any doubt about the game going ahead, a decision should have been made the night before?
Yet again, the needs of the supporters have been disregarded. It hasn’t been a good week for the football authorities in Scotland. Then again, is it ever?
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
