Lawwell is disappointed Wednesday's game at Rugby Park did not go ahead

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has blamed Kilmarnock after Wednesday's match between the clubs was postponed.

The game at Rugby Park was called off on the advice of the police, but Lawwell believes Killie could have done more to ensure the game went ahead.

"We are extremely disappointed," Lawwell told Celtic's website.

"It is the responsibility of home clubs to ensure that their own footprint or locality is safe and obviously in this case, this has not been achieved."

An SPL statement said the match in Ayrshire was called off due to "approach roads to the stadium being declared unsafe by the police".

"We have been told that the pitch is perfectly playable, but we have also been informed that the match cannot proceed due to the stadium footprint (area surrounding the stadium) not being cleared," added Lawwell.

"Naturally this is very frustrating for the club and its supporters."

Divisional commander chief superintendent Bill Fitzpatrick said: "Having examined the stadium and its immediate environments on each of the previous two days, Strathclyde Police cannot guarantee that the football match scheduled for Wednesday night could be held without considerable and unacceptable risk to spectators and others attending the match.

"Extreme weather conditions have resulted in thick compacted ice covering large areas of the approaches to the stadium - this has proved resistant to mitigation.

Spectator safety is a priority and we must ensure a safe environment for all those attending Rugby Park Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston

"The prospect of continued low temperatures offers no prospect of an improvement in the situation and therefore a reduction in the risk to spectators."

Kilmarnock were supportive of the decision to call off the match.

"Spectator safety is a priority and we must ensure a safe environment for all those attending Rugby Park," said club chairman Michael Johnston.

"We'll now make arrangements to re-schedule this match and a further announcement will be made in due course."

Three other midweek Scottish Premier League fixtures have fallen victim to the weather, with Tuesday's match between Aberdeen and Falkirk, Hamilton v St Mirren and St Johnstone v Hibernian on Wednesday also being called off.

Rangers' home game against Dundee United and Motherwell's trip to face Hearts, both on Wednesday, are still scheduled to go ahead.

Celtic are due to host Rangers on Sunday, a day after Kilmarnock face a trip to St Mirren Park.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version