Big freeze could hamper Albion Rovers play-off hopes

Jan 6 2010 Terrace Talk with Sam Tennent

FOR the second season in succession, Albion Rovers have not kicked a ball competitively over the festive season.

It looked like the game against Queen’s Park at Hampden might survive the ravages of the winter weather but heavy overnight snowfalls meant hazardous travelling conditions and the game was called-off citing concerns for “spectator safety”.

They could easily have added “spectator comfort” as I suspect that there were not too many fans who relished sitting out 90-odd minutes in the biting cold of Hampden.

Last season the weather kept Rovers out of action until mid-January and it appears increasingly likely that this will be repeated this term with the Scottish Cup game against Stirling Albion at Cliftonhill on Saturday surely looking doubtful, even at this stage.

In fact, the lay-off this time around could be even longer as the pre-Christmas tie against East Stirling at Ochilview also fell foul of a sudden deterioration in the weather.

This call-off, together with the one at Hampden, shows that there is only so much that artificial pitches and undersoil heating can do to keep matches from being cancelled and the case for summer football is surely strengthened by this.

However, many in the game, including Rovers gaffer Paul Martin, are not supporters of such a change and I doubt that we will see a move in this direction anytime soon.

A more likely development would be the introduction of a winter shutdown over the festive period.

Although some people argue that this is also an unnecessary intrusion on the traditional schedule, I think that it would be better for fans and players since it would take away the uncertainty that surrounds these games and allow festive plans to be made with more confidence.

All this leaves Rovers with three games that will need to be re-scheduled and this total could easily rise if the weather remains poor.

It’s beginning to look ominously like the fixture pile-up that forced Rovers to play eight games during March last season will be repeated this time around.

That was a poor spell during which only five points out of the 24 available were secured and Rovers’ play-off aspirations were effectively ended.

Still, this time around it will be the same story for all the Third Division clubs since the bad weather has taken its toll on more or less everyone, with only one game played since December 12.

With no real football to discuss, fans’ attention has turned to the opening of the transfer window and the wheelings and dealings that may yet determine our season.

One issue has already been decided with on-loan winger Adam Strachan joining former Rovers boss John McCormack at Clyde.

I thought Adam did well in his short spell at Cliftonhill and I’m sure he will succeed at Second Division level.

Ironically, much of the speculation surrounds a player who has not kicked a ball for Rovers since early November.

Bobby Barr looks likely to go elsewhere and the resulting fee may provide Paul with some welcome funds to boost the squad.

With Rovers boasting a solid defensive record so far this season, there’s no doubt where any available money will be targeted - a striker will be the top priority and a creative midfielder would also be a great addition to the squad.

The key to Rovers’ play-off hopes remains an improvement in our goalscoring record and the decisions that Paul makes during January will no doubt be focused on achieving that aim.