Mitchell warns that game will lose to the weather

Dec 18 2010 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

RENFREW general manager Dougie Mitchell reckons the chances of today’s Emirates Scottish Junior Cup third round game at home to Lochee United going ahead are slim.

Should the game go ahead, Renfrew’s task could not be any harder.

They are up against a crack team from the East Region who can boast reaching the semi-finals of this competition last season.

But the ’Frew have been struggling to get the game on after they were affected by burst pipes at Western Park.

And, given the fact that the playing surface is still very hard due to the cold weather, Mitchell believes the cup tie will be postponed again.

In fact, he’s so convinced that the game will be frozen off that he has already arranged a bounce game against Beith Juniors at Seedhill Playing Fields in Paisley to keep his players ticking over.

Last night, he told Express Sports: “At this moment in time, I’d say the game will be off.

“We’ve not managed to get the pipes fixed, plus the pitch is rock hard, so it’s very doubtful in my opinion but I’ve managed to arrange a game with Beith should the cup tie not go ahead and that will provide us with a good wee workout at Seedhill.”

Mitchell believes the current weather conditions equate to his side going into a forced hibernation.

And, with a two-week break over Christmas and New Year looming, it could be five or six weeks before Renfrew get back out on the park competitively.

Mitchell said: “It’s like going back to pre-season training. There is nothing else we can do and everybody is in the same boat.

“The thing is that the costs really add up because, with no revenue coming in, it’s difficult for us financially, especially when you have to rent indoor facilities.”