Scunthorpe United concerned by freezing temperatures ahead of Portsmouth clash

PLUNGING temperatures are putting Scunthorpe United's home game with Portsmouth on Saturday in doubt.

Covers were put on the Glanford Park pitch yesterday and were originally planned to be taken off tomorrow ready for an attempt to clear the snow underneath.

That has now been put back 24 hours, with the club appealing for volunteers to help with the operation from 9am Friday morning.

General manager David Beeby hopes this will give the match the best possible chance of going ahead.

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"We're going to leave the covers on tomorrow now because the temperatures are too severe," he said.

"If we took the covers off and we get the forecast temperatures, then it would be unlikely the game will go ahead.

"The plan is now to take the covers off on Friday and see what snow we've got left on the pitch.

"Then we'll re-cover the pitch and hope we don't get too much snow, but we're more worried about the temperatures that we're forecast to get.

"The forecast's not good.

"We've got some very severe frost in the next couple of days, then there's a good chance of a heavy amount of snow on Friday.

"We want to leave the covers on for as long as we possibly can, then we'll remove the covers and see where we're at."

Beeby added every consideration will be given to the distance United's opponents will have to travel this weekend.

"The pitch is covered at the moment and it's okay but we'll be assessing the situation as the days go by," he continued.

"Bearing in mind Portsmouth are due to travel up on Friday and their supporters early Saturday morning, we'll be keeping that in mind."