Dickov’s fury at early call

Colchester United’s ground on the morning of the inspection, 24 hours before Athletic were due to visit.

ATHLETIC manager Paul Dickov could not hide his frustration as a FIFTH successive match hit the skids due to the cold weather — handing the club its longest in-season gap between fixtures for more than 31 years.

Local referee Mike Bull inspected the pitch at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium on Monday morning, ruling that several frozen areas were unplayable and not likely to improve enough to get yesterday’s match played.

That did not sit well with Dickov, who had his attempts to convince the official to hold fire rebuffed.

“He did not listen to what I had to say which I found disgusting,” said Dickov, who pleaded for a delayed decision given a forecast rise in temperature. ‘I am absolutely raging.”

Coupled with the Boxing Day home game against Carlisle United, the Colchester postponement is added to a list of no-go December fixtures also including Walsall (away), Swindon (home) and MK Dons (away).

No new dates have yet been set for either Colchester or Carlisle. The last time Athletic experienced such a long period of inactivity was in 1979, when the team did not play between New Year’s Day and February 10.

Despite the enforced lay-off, Athletic remain in a good position in the npower League One table.

Southampton and Peterborough have overtaken Dickov’s men in the standings, but with matches in hand on all the sides above them, ninth-placed Athletic are still well in touch with the play-off positions.

The chances of playing out this weekend’s double-header appear to be improving.

In-form Hartlepool United, who beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 away from home on Boxing Day, had their home game against Leyton Orient yesterday postponed due to snow and ice.

Mick Wadsworth’s men are due to welcome Athletic to Victoria Park on New Year’s Day and above-zero temperatures between now and then could lead to a thaw, meaning the game can go ahead as planned.

Athletic then turn their attentions to the home derby clash with Rochdale at Boundary Park on Monday, January 3.

Dale’s home match with Bristol Rovers yesterday fell foul of a frozen pitch.



LEWIS Alessandra damaged ankle ligaments in training and would have missed the Colchester trip had the game gone ahead.
The club’s medical staff are waiting for the swelling around the ankle to subside before assessing the injury further.



OUMARE Tounkara and Dale Stephens were on the scoresheet as Athletic took on Manchester United in a swiftly-arranged behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington yesterday.
United won 3-2 in an hour-long contest and put out a side containing Northern Ireland international Corry Evans, midfielder Oliver Norwood and goalkeeper Ben Amos.