Caley Thistle hope tonight’s Championship fixture away to Dumbarton goes ahead at the second attempt in order to avoid the knock-on effect of their subsequent matches against Dumfermline and Livingston being pushed back.
Caley Jags will make the trip to YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium 24 hours later than planned after it was called off early yesterday afternoon due to a waterlogged pitch.
The Sons’ ground staff immediately began work on the surface ahead of further rain forecast in Dumbartonshire, with the two clubs to try again for a third time tomorrow night should it fall victim to the weather again tonight.
Caley Jags are due to host Dunfermline on Saturday before travelling to Livingston on Tuesday, but the Highlanders are braced for both fixtures being moved back 24 hours should they face the Sons tomorrow with time running out ahead of the promotion play-offs.
Inverness manager John Robertson said: “There was nothing we could do. The weather was bad in the west coast overnight – we knew that and we were hopeful it would be OK but the pitch is waterlogged.
“Dumbarton put the letter out in the morning, the Scottish FA sent the referee and he deemed it unplayable. We asked the players to go the the gym and do a very light session.
“There’s more bad weather due so we are standing by. We’ve been told if it’s off tonight we play on Thursday so both sides just have to re-prepare for the match.
“We have already been told that if the game is off again it will be rescheduled for Thursday. That will mean our game against Dunfermline will be pushed back to Sunday, and then the match against Livingston would more likely be pushed back to the Wednesday.
“That’s unfortunately the things that happen when you run out of dates to play but we just have to get on with it. It’s not ideal, but right now we are just concentrating on the fact will go ahead tonight.”
Dumbarton manager Stephen Aitken has told his part-time players to keep tonight and Thursday night clear, and he said: “It is not the ideal situation for either team however there was water on the pitch that was not draining away. There was rain overnight on Monday and that just added to an existing problem caused by the snow and rain earlier this year.
“With Inverness already having a game scheduled for next week it was agreed to try and meet on Wednesday and if not then Thursday. If the game does not go ahead on either of those nights the SPFL will need to make call as both team could be involved in play-off matches the following week.”