Dundee United P-P Hamilton Accies

Referee Willie Collum carries out his pitch inspection at Tannadice

The Scottish Premier League match between Dundee United and Hamilton has been postponed after the Tannadice pitch failed an inspection.

Referee Willie Collum assessed the surface at 1720 GMT after a period of heavy rain, and decided the game should not go ahead.

"Our prime priority here is to make sure that the players are safe," Collum told BBC Radio Scotland.

"The condition the pitch is in, we can't guarantee the players' safety."

The late afternoon inspection was organised after a prolonged period of wet weather in Dundee.

"There's three areas of the pitch that we're a bit worried about," added Collum. "The part in front of the (main) stand reaching into the 18-yard box is very, very heavy, there's a bit of water lying on it and it's difficult to get a grip, your feet are sinking as you're running up the touchline, running up the wing.

I have sympathy with anybody that's been affected with the match being postponed at this stage

Referee Willie Collum

"Beyond the halfway line at the top end there's a problem as well. The ball's not taking a natural bounce or rolling, again a safety issue, and also both goalmouths are very heavy and again our feet were sinking into that.

"The ground staff have put a lot of work in, the majority of the pitch is looking good, it's playable but for us at the end of the day, it's important the whole pitch is safe and I couldn't guarantee that.

"I understand people's frustration. When I come here I want the game to go ahead.

"The spectators as well will be frustrated but, from a refereeing point of view, I can only make the decision when I'm asked to make it and for me it goes on the players' safety and of course I have sympathy with anybody that's been affected with the match being postponed at this stage."

The fixture was previously called off due to adverse weather and no new date for the fixture has yet been announced with both clubs having other rearranged games to fit in.

Hamilton secretary Scott Struthers expressed his annoyance that the match was not called off earlier in the day, but agreed with Collum's assessment that the pitch was unplayable.

"I fully take the referee's word and I have no doubt the referee has carried out a very thorough inspection and we back his decision on that," said Struthers.

But in relation to the late call-off, he added: "We've made our 'displeasure', shall we say, known to the SPL as the day has gone on.

"We were alerted at lunchtime that there was a problem with the pitch and the indications we had then was that it was unplayable at that time.

"Certainly the rain eased this afternoon but we are aware that the rain has to be heavier from 6pm this evening so the referee bears that in mind as well."

Hearts made similar complaints to the league after their meeting with United at Tannadice on 15 January was called off two-and-a-half hours before kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch.

SPL secretary Iain Blair told BBC Radio Scotland: "I understand entirely the frustrations of a late call-off. The alternative is to postpone a fixture unnecessarily.

"With the fixture congestion, we must allow games to have a reasonable chance of going ahead.

"I think we demonstrated during the winter that where there is no chance of the game going ahead we are quite happy to take an early decision.

"We're at a marginal decision here and I don't think there is anything that anyone can do to stop a marginal decision happening occasionally.

"All we can do is make our best judgements at the time."