A FROZEN surface at Links Park prevented Montrose FC from starting 2010 with a New Year derby clash against Forfar on Saturday. As the winter weather refused to release its grip on Scottish football, the decision was taken at 2pm on Hogmanay to declare the match off.
Montrose are due to travel down to the capital this Saturday to play Edinburgh City in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup and manager Steven Tweed fears that the cup-tie will also bite the dust.
"I don't think we will get action this Saturday,
given the weather forecast and the tie has already been provisionally rescheduled for next Tuesday.
"We will prepare this week anticipating that the match will be on Saturday and we will be ready whenever it is played."
Victory over Edinburgh City would see Montrose into the last 16 of the competition, a place they haven't been for many seasons.
After Saturday, Montrose will be three league games behind the fixture card, but these matches won't be rescheduled until March.
"One of our postponed games is up at Elgin and it won't be easy getting people away from work in time on a midweek night.
"It is never easy running a part-time club and we are all in the same boat."
A debate about the merits of summer football is currently raging and Steven can see both sides of the argument.
"It wouldn't apply to us, but how would teams get their pitches up to standard if they played on them all through the summer.
"I am for it. I played in Japan when the season was March to November and it worked. We could also shut down for a couple of weeks in the summer.
"In this country we never know when the bad weather is going to come. It can be as bad in March as it is in November.
"It has been a long time since it has been as bad as it has been this winter. We are playing in Scotland and I think we will just have to get used to it."
With the transfer window now open, the Links Park gaffer is trying to bolster his squad.
"I'd like to fix up Paul Tosh, but it is dependent on finance and I may need to get people out first.
"I will not be doing much until after the cup-tie as I will need all my current players for that game."
Tweed has also been speaking to his former East Fife team mate Paul Stewart, who has secured his release from Clyde.
"I have spoken to Paul. He didn't want to stay with Clyde after John Brown left. He is a free agent and something might happen.
"I have a list drawn up of people I would like and we will see what I can or can't do."
The manager also plans to have a word with Arbroath about the future of Paul Watson. Midfielder Watson was a success during his loan spell at Montrose, but has now returned to Gayfield.
