Millers facing Christmas freeze-off

THE winter freeze is threatening to wipe out Rotherham United's Christmas games, with the Boxing Day trip to Stockport County and Tuesday's home date against Accrington Stanley already in doubt.

A pitch inspection will take place at Stockport's Edgeley Park ground at 2pm today while a significant upturn in temperatures is needed to enable the Accrington match to go ahead.

The Millers' chief operating officer Paul Douglas said: “The pitch at Stockport is very hard and the forecast for over there is not improving.

“The Football League want clubs to do all they can to get games on but at the same time they do not want supporters to be inconvenienced at this time of year. It is a case of striking a balance between realism and optimism.

The Accrington match is still five days away but the pitch at Don Valley Stadium is rock hard.

“We have new frost covers but there is no chance when it is as cold as it is at the moment.

“We need temperatures of up to four or five degrees on Monday and some warmer air to stand a chance.

“If there is no chance then we will look to make a call on Monday. If there's a glimmer of hope then we will leave it as late as we can.”

Douglas said a new date had still to be set for last Saturday's postponed match at Torquay which was called off too late to spare supporters and the team a wasted journey.