Chairman laments early call off

John Yorkston:- "I think it would had been better if the decision had been made a bit later, say 12.30pm or 1.00pm to give it every chance of being played.

Dunfermline Athletic Chairman John Yorkston feels that the decision by Fife Police to postpone the Fife Derby on Saturday 2nd January was made prematurely:-

"It was the wrong decision at the time; it could have waited and was made entirely on the strength of the weather forecast.

"It's very frustrating to say the least. The match was called off shortly after 10.00am despite the park passing an inspection. The players trained on it on Friday and the surroundings are fine. We have had regular meetings with the police and Fife Council throughout the week and we did the work that required to be done.

"Unfortunately Fife Police decided the match could not go ahead after the Met Office forecast heavy snow for during the course of the afternoon. It's very extremely disappointing because it's been sunny this morning.

"I do not see why the game had to be called off at 10.00am because as everyone knows weather forecasts are not always spot on. And it's not as if the fans are having to travel long distances to get to the ground.

Weather conditions changed throughout the morning

"I think it would had been better if the decision had been made a bit later, say 12.30pm or 1.00pm to give it every chance of being played. But the police have made their decision and we have no option but to abide by it although it's obviously disappointing for both sets of fans who were looking forward to the game.

Midday: Greg Ross and Calum Woods expecting to train

"A Fife derby is always a big match, we were going to have something like 600 people in for hospitality. We were also looking at a crowd in excess of 7000. Now the game will have to be played in midweek so you can cut around 1000 from that figure which is going to cost us more money on the back of the bill of having the undersoil heating switched on for five days.

PICTURES FROM EAST END PARK

"It's just a shame for all the people who have put in so much work behind the scenes to try and get the game played."