LES PARRY believes English football must stay true to its traditions by carrying on through the worst days of the winter.
The Tranmere manager has no time for the argument, often advanced after a blast of Arctic conditions hits fixtures across the country, that the game should have a midwinter break or shut-down.
Parry and his players spent Saturday training rather than playing after Rovers’ League One clash against Yeovil Town was postponed as a result of adverse weather conditions.
It was the third time in three weeks Tranmere lost a game to the elements. The visits to Gillingham and Oldham Athletic were also called off.
In common with a majority of small Football League clubs, Rovers are not in position to afford expensive under-soil heating systems to protect their pitch. They must cope as best they can with the extremes of the weather.
Parry said: “I don’t agree with the idea of a winter break. I think we have to accept the game for what it is. Historically football has run from August to May and think it should stay that way – without a break.”
Parry added: “The question arises, what date which you set for a winter break? This winter the cold weather hit at Christmas and January. Last year there were lots of the games called off in February.
“So do you leave the fixtures unscheduled until you get a concrete forecast? Or do you set down the fixtures at the beginning of the season as normal?
“I like winter football. It is the mainstay of the English game and I would hate to see it change.”
Parry had already drawn up plans for training sessions over the weekend before referee Graham Salisbury made an early decision to postpone Saturday’s game shortly before noon on Friday.
Tranmere’s groundstaff, supported by local businesses, had worked hard through the week to clear snow from the pitch, surrounds and car park at Prenton Park.
But heavy rain on Thursday night and on Friday morning left the pitch waterlogged.
Chief executive Mick Horton said: “We were really disappointed the game did not take place but with heavy rain forecast, we fully understood the referee’s decision.
“Our groundstaff worked exceptionally hard but there is only so much any club can do.”
Tranmere are due to make a second attempt to play their League One game at Oldham Athletic on Wednesday (kick-off 7.45pm). The original fixture on Boxing Day fell victim to a heavy snowfall that made the area around Boundary Park dangerous for spectators.
Meanwhile the game at Gillingham, called off on January 9 because of snow and ice, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 9. The home game against Leeds United, postponed from January 2 because both clubs had FA Cup commitments that weekend, will now take place at Prenton Park on Tuesday, March 9.
