ICT chief to probe drainage after Celtic call-off

CALEY Thistle are to find out if the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium drainage system needs improved after Saturday’s home Clydesdale Bank SPL clash with Celtic was postponed just two hours before the noon kick-off.

After rain fell steadily throughout the early hours of Saturday morning, match referee Craig Thomson called the game off.

The fixture was set to be screened live on ESPN and this is the second time this year that Celtic have been the visitors when a match in Inverness has been postponed, the other being Dundee United.

With the morning forecast looking good, the clubs agreed to try and delay kick-off until 1pm, but could not gain SPL approval in time and Celtic caught their flights south.

ICT chairman George Fraser is poised to launch an investigation into the stadium’s drainage and he added: “Given that our record for having our games on has been superb and the fact we have now lost three games to a flooded pitch in a short period of time, we will be getting a second opinion with regard to the playing surface, so we can decide what, if anything, requires to be done to improve the drainage on the pitch.

“The postponement doesn’t help either team. Celtic are going for the title, while we are anxious to book a top six spot. We look forward to the game being rescheduled as soon as is practicable.”

ICT boss Terry Butcher said: “We desperately wanted the game to go ahead, but you have to look at player safety and entertainment. It could easily have been a farce. Any injuries or cautions if the game had gone ahead could have affected the outcome not just of this game, but the entire season.

“We did speak about putting the kick-off time back until 3pm as the pitch might have been OK, but we would have lost TV money and Celtic had flights to catch. Celtic will now have to come up here for a fifth time this season, so they will be sick of it. They’ll now realise who much travelling we do.”

No new date has been set, although Thursday, April 17 seems most likely.

This is an additional headache for the league leaders, who are set to face St Johnstone in Perth on April 15 and Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on April 20.

ICT have only two other pre-split fixtures, this weekend’s game at Kilmarnock and the home date with Hearts on April 16.