wiganwarriors.com/news/2017-02-2 ... -postponed

wiganwarriors.com/news/2017-02-2 ... -postponed

Quote The Betfred Super League fixture between Wigan Warriors and Widnes Vikings scheduled for Friday 24th February has been postponed. Explaining the situation, Wigan Warriors Chairman, Ian Lenagan, said: “With the inclement weather over the last day resulting in intermittent standing water on the pitch and the further forecasted bad weather over the next 24 hours, the DW Stadium pitch simply cannot sustain two games this weekend. “With Wigan Athletic’s season at such a critical stage and after detailed discussions between myself and Wigan Athletic Chairman, David Sharpe, it was agreed that they need to play this fixture more than we need to play ours. “Potential for the game to be moved to Sunday was discussed but this simply isn’t an option with the pitch in its current state, therefore the game will be rescheduled for later this season. “We apologise to our fans for the inconvenience and disappointment this causes. “I too am bitterly disappointed not to be able tomorrow night to welcome our Champion team but feel certain that we have made the right decision.” Read more at wiganwarriors.com/news/2017-02-2 ... Se6exvH.99'"

Quote The Betfred Super League fixture between Wigan Warriors and Widnes Vikings scheduled for Friday 24th February has been postponed. Explaining the situation, Wigan Warriors Chairman, Ian Lenagan, said: “With the inclement weather over the last day resulting in intermittent standing water on the pitch and the further forecasted bad weather over the next 24 hours, the DW Stadium pitch simply cannot sustain two games this weekend. “With Wigan Athletic’s season at such a critical stage and after detailed discussions between myself and Wigan Athletic Chairman, David Sharpe, it was agreed that they need to play this fixture more than we need to play ours. “Potential for the game to be moved to Sunday was discussed but this simply isn’t an option with the pitch in its current state, therefore the game will be rescheduled for later this season. “We apologise to our fans for the inconvenience and disappointment this causes. “I too am bitterly disappointed not to be able tomorrow night to welcome our Champion team but feel certain that we have made the right decision.” Read more at wiganwarriors.com/news/2017-02-2 ... Se6exvH.99'"

It doesn't look great but I don't think it does us too much harm tbh. The players heads have been elsewhere I'm sure and we have a big squad which should cope better with two games in a week then Widnes can.

It won't go down well but there's always positives I supppse.

Lennigan rolled over again . Conflict of interests . Looks like his football roles are more important to him . He wont give a that some of us up here have just lost hundreds of pounds . Five of us from Scotland and one from Belfast royaly shafted.

Regards EW

Disgraceful again from Lenegan, he should pop down to the local abbatoir I'm sure he can find a suitable pair of bo!!ox there.

Had the potential to be a banana skin imo after Sunday's effort so I'm not too bothered but the circumstances don't sit too well with me.

Another rearanged midweek game that nobody can get too or want to go too. Season tickets are just a joke but not as big a joke as Lennigan . Superleague games in Austrailia he cant even play them in Wigan . The mans a tool

EW

Bad news for the long distance travellers..

Surely the ref will need to inspect the pitch and then call it off or on?

Just walked past the DW and the pitch looked immaculate, I couldn't even see any standing water. They even had them sunlight machines on it.

Is it just a convenient excuse to get us a week off after the WCC?

Im fairly convinced that is the case.

Wonder what Sky and the RFL will say to this.

If Latics play their match on Saturday then I can see the RFL docking us points for cancelling a match without good reason. RL doesn't need a bone dry pitch and many matches have been played on waterlogged pitches in the past.

I must say though that for the RFL fixture planners to give us a home match in the middle of February on the same weekend that the Latics are at home is stupid as their fixtures were known in advance. Surely they should have realised that two matches on one weekend at this time of year would be a problem.

Sky showing Wire game now

Widnes saying they were not consulted about this

Were RFL consulted re pitch inspection ?

EW

"With Wigan Athletic’s season at such a critical stage and after detailed discussions between myself and Wigan Athletic Chairman, David Sharpe, it was agreed that they need to play this fixture more than we need to play ours."

Considering the Latics have won just one league game at the DW since September, I would suggest they could do with playing a few more on the road in the hope they can win a few games and climb above those Giants in Football - Burton Albion FC.

Lenegan is playing a dangerous game here. He is saying that the pitch couldn't take two games, but we're the first up so that shouldn't have any bearing on our fixture. Also is a club allowed to postpone a game unilaterally, i.e. without the agreement of either the match officials or the opposition team? Very poor for me this

This is clearly the case. Widnes should be awarded the 2 points and a hefty fine for Lenegan IMO.

IIRC during my involvement with the game surely only the match official can call off the game subject to a pitch inspection.

Not true. If the owners of the pitch call it off, it's off. This even happens at Sunday morning kids level with the council calling games off. Whether we have to forfeit the points or get fined by the RFL is another matter.

Yet another dreadful capitulation by the chairman. I've never been a fan of him since he took up his football role as it is clearly a conflict of interests. I bought my season ticket in good faith having eventually forgiven him for the last seasons farce. If this costs me money (as I can't attend in the week) then it will have to be match by match for future seasons. I understand fixtures can change but it seems like he has ridden rough shod over his own fans, the RFL and Widnes. Clearly the fixture could be played so I hope the outcome is 2 points to Widnes and a huge fine for the club. Maybe then he will grow a pair.

The only right thing is for Widnes to get the two points. Any team could do this after picking up a few injuries etc... the situation stinks but the game has to be a forfit

RL are totally to blame for this. Lastics fixtures were known before our fixtures were arranged. Should not have been the need for a clash. Two matches same weekend, especially in February, are a no, no. Cup matches - luck of draw. Absolutely hate lastics ( would draw curtains if they were playing on back garden) but think they are right on this one. Wood and RL are e.

Not sure why liaising with Widnes and getting the game swapped over and Sunday wasn't an option? Could have down that and swapped later on in the season. I'm sure Widnes would have been more than happy.

Wigan should get a fine and the two points should be given to Widnes for this. Not good enough.

Because 48 hours is clearly not enough notice to move a game?

The only ridiculous part about this is the press release and the carry on about Latics being in a crucial part of the season. Why the F would you choose to say that? Just say the pitch can't handle 2 games and the football was scheduled before. Whoever decided to put that in is a moron.

Pathetic. With the demands of Wigan Athletic and weeks on end when the ground isn't available due to pitch works, Wigan barely offer eleven weekends when the ground is available between February and July to play your league games, especially when you want to play Fridays and the landlords don't like short turnarounds unlike all the other dual use grounds in Super League. The RFL are already far too accommodating to the ridiculous demands placed on the rugby league fixture list by Wigan Athletic.

The blame lies solely in Wigan: with a ground built on a bog, a football club who like things their own way and the only top rugby league club without a proper home of their own.