Baker estimates the postponement will cost his club �25,000 in the short term

Cheltenham Town chairman Paul Baker has criticised referee Keith Stroud's decision to postpone Saturday's game against Darlington at Whaddon Road.

It is the third time in two months that a match at Whaddon Road has been called off, creating a cashflow problem.

"I think it's a disgusting decision," Baker told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"We still had another hour and a half of sunshine to come. I've seen harder pitches for the first game of a season following a hot summer."

Referee Stroud finally judged the pitch as unplayable two hours before the scheduled kick-off time (1500 GMT), after two previous checks.

Baker did not arrive at the ground until after Stroud had already made his decision and did not get to speak to him, but claims the official's decision was too hasty.

"He doesn't understand the implications of this sort of decision on a football club," said Baker.

"The implications for cash flow are just very worrying, all because one man cannot wait another half an hour or an hour to see if the sun will have more impact than it already had."

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