CLAMP DOWN ON LATE CALLS

MARC WHITE reckons it's time for leagues to get tough over a spate of late postponements which are causing clubs and supporters wasted trips and financial upheaval.

- Jon Couch

White estimates National League club Dorking Wanderers were out of pocket by around £5,000 when their 470-mile round trip to York City was cut short last Tuesday night (January 16), just an hour before kick-off, due to a frozen pitch.

With the match referee having the final say, it came on a night when no fewer than four other fixtures fell foul to the weather with visiting teams having already arrived at the ground, notably Dartford, who had been on the road for over five hours when they were told that their National League South trip to Truro City had been called off, and Guiseley, whose match at Whitby Town in NPL Premier was postponed just minutes before the scheduled start.

Similar late calls also affected last Saturday's calendar, prompting managers, players and supporters to express their dissatisfaction on social media.