Blackpool are reporting that the clash with Manchester United on Saturday is under increased threat of postponement as temperatures fell to minus eight last night. During the cold snap, large patches of the playing surface at Bloomfield Road have become frozen and last night’s spell meant that the problem has worsened.
Although the ground staff have been working throughout the night, with large hot air blowers and covering over the ground, the situation is certainly one that is causing concern. The club are keeping in regular contact with the Premier League and are going to make another official update to supporters via their website later today.
The news will come as a massive blow to Manager Ian Holloway who has been in a determined mood this week, in preparation for the Manchester United’s first visit to Bloomfield Road since 1974.
Blackpool’s reportedly frozen training facilities were certainly not enough to trouble the single-minded gaffer…
“We will be on the training ground tomorrow whatever the weather, but if it’s too bad and still frozen, then we will train on the beach if the tide is out. It is a luxury that we have in Blackpool. It’s flat and you can train on it. We tried to train down there last year during the bad weather, but it was frozen. Stanley Matthews was down there every morning when he played for the club and it didn’t do him any harm, did it? If the beach was good enough for that calibre of player, then it’s certainly all right for my lot.”
This potential of a postponement creates a massive dilemma for Fantasy Managers who have invested heavily in Manchester United players. Dimitar Berbatov has expectedly been transferred in by over 83,000 Managers in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game this week after his stunning five goal haul against Blackburn Rovers, and owners of the Bulgarian could be particularly frustrated. Nani has an ownership of 40.1% in the FPL and has been the top scoring midfielder this season. With Wayne Rooney back in bloom, over 31,000 Fantasy Managers have also opted to bring him into their teams this week.
It’s not just Manchester United’s stars that there will be concern over, Blackpool have been performing above expectation this season and many have opted for some of their cut-price players. Tangerines’ captain Charlie Adam has been in great form since their promotion to the Premier League notching up 69 points and is unsurprisingly owned by 17.4% of FPL Managers.
We can only wait on further news from Blackpool and hope that a decision arrives well before tomorrow’s Fantasy deadlines.
