 |
| Russell Slade Pictured At Edgar Street Recently |
Not long after Hereford's game was called off at Kettering this afternoon manager Russell Slade spoke to BBC Hereford and Worcester.
"The pitch is 100% not playable," said Slade.
"The first thing Stewart the kit man said when we arrived, he didn't say good morning gaffer or hello how are you, was you need to go and see the pitch.
"The area as you walk onto the pitch is exceptionally heavy, loaded with sand but really that only masked over how poor the pitch is in that particular area.
"Then you go and investigate all over the pitch and you see lots of these areas where the ball will not bounce and where, more importantly, more importantly, there is a danger to individual players.
"And that's the thing today, from a referee's point of view as well, it would be on his shoulders as well if this game today went ahead and somebody picked up an injury in one of those areas because it is dangerous.
"I lost my training shoes over there, it's like quicksand out there in some of those areas.
"The pitch needs a lot more drying out time before it was going to be playable.
"I think the frustration from our point of view for our fans and for our team and everybody else is that we've travelled all the way here, there was an inspection in place and then that was taken away.
"I think it was felt by Kettering in their wisdom that the game was going to be playable. Even though it is a nice day now that just masks over the fact that the pitch is not suitable.
"You can't play on these pitches, it has to be at least of a sound surface, not a danger to players out there because a career injury could occur in such conditions.
"Now it's going to be a Tuesday or Wednesday night and we need to make certain that the pitch when we do eventually travel to Kettering to get this game played that it is a lot better condition that it is now."