TONIGHT'S match between Blackpool and Burton Albion at Bloomfield Road has been postponed due to concerns over the pitch.
The match was called off by the officials just prior to kick-off. Referee Christopher Sarginson said: “I looked at the pitch at 6pm and I was happy, but since the lights have been taken off, the playing surface has deteriorated so much.”
“We’re at the stage now, at 7pm, where there are hard bits on the surface in one half and with two hours before we complete the game at 9pm, there’s no way we’re going to get through.
"The temperature is dropping and it’s only going to harden up and get worse. Player safety has to come into it.”
Manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said he was disappointed that the game has not gone ahead tonight, but emphasised the need to put player safety first.
"The players went out for a warmup and I had three players slipping, one really badly when he couldn't stop," said Hasselbaink.
"The referee was called. I was watching from a distance and he was told that the pitch was really hard and frozen, part of it in one half.
"The referee called me (over), I spoke to a couple of the players and some were not happy with it.
"The referee made the decision not to play because the longer the game would go on, the more the frozen parts would get dangerous.
"We have come here to play, prepared to play, set up to play and it wasn't meant to be.
"The most important thing for me is the safety of my players. If it's not safe to play, then you can't play. The club has spent money on a coach and everything to get here.
"We're coming in after a good result, and we're feeling good, so we wanted to come here and play but the conditions have to be right for both teams.
"I don't think the conditions were right and it's unfortunate but we have to do the right things for our players."
A rearranged date for this fixture will be confirmed in due course.