Catlin '˜disappointed' with timing of Pompey cancellation

The Blues were left without a match on Saturday when the Crown Ground fixture was called off following a 10am pitch inspection.

Referee Trevor Kettle ruled the pitch was frozen, despite covers being applied overnight.

However, many travelling Pompey supporters were angry not to have been alerted earlier to the possibility of the game being called off.

Concerning news of a forthcoming pitch inspection was first mentioned on Accrington’s Twitter feed at 9.33am.

And the Blues’ chief executive was also unhappy over the timings.

Catlin said: ‘In any game that is called off, you do what you can to get the game on.

‘Unfortunately for Accrington, they couldn’t get it on.

‘My only slight disappointment with it was about the timing of the announcement there was going to be a pitch inspection.

‘I fully understand the rationale behind a pitch inspection at 10am, you have to give it an hour or two to see if the pitch is going to defrost.

‘I’m just disappointed we were not advised earlier there was going to be the inspection.

‘With hindsight, it would have been better telling people sooner, then it would have given fans the choice of whether they were going to take the risk of travelling.

‘I believe Accrington staff arrived fairly early and the pitch was solid at that point but, just like supporters, the club learned after 9.30am there was to be an inspection.

‘In hindsight, even though was still a chance for the game to be on, it may have been better to advise the club and supporters earlier.’