Club confirms 'major effort' underway to ensure Blackburn game goes ahead
Wigan Athletic have confirmed that the club is doing 'everything in its power' to ensure that the Boxing Day clash with Blackburn Rovers goes ahead as planned at the DW Stadium.
The club have already spent a five figure sum to hire in equipment and materials to try and avoid a repeat of Monday night's postponement against Bolton Wanderers, and are working now to ensure the game goes ahead.
The condition of the pitch and inside the DW Stadium itself are perfect, with Head Groundsman Ian Forshaw and Stadium manager Alan Sumner and their teams working around the clock to ensure everything is ready.
The under-soil heating has been functioning since the weekend, and all the seating area, entrances and walkways are in great condition.
However, it is outside the stadium where the problems lie, and which of course caused the postponement yesterday.
Snow and ice across the ten acres of car parks and approach ways, plus the one mile of roads, are producing a major hazard for the public.
The club has hired a JCB snowplough to clear the snow, which has been working since yesterday, Monday and will continue through today, Tuesday, and tomorrow, Wednesday.
In addition, the club have purchased in over THIRTY tonnes of grit, which is being spread everyday throughout the site, to try and minimise the impact of the big freeze.
Brenda Spencer, Chief Executive, said: "Ultimately, we can't control the weather of course, but we are doing everything in our power to try and keep the game played on Saturday.
"Our first priority has to be the safety of the supporters of both teams, and some of the approaches to the stadium are treacherous. That is why we are gritting the area and ploughing the snow.
"At the moment the forecast seems quite favourable in that there could be a slight thaw before the weekend but we cannot afford to leave anything to chance, which is why we are trying to clear the stockpiles of snow now and spending a considerable sum of money to make this happen.
"We will keep everyone informed of any news regarding the game but at this stage we are very confident that the game will be played."
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