Grounds for complaint

Hastings Borough Council ruled on Friday morning (January 31) that all its pitches were unplayable - more than 48 hours before the games were due to kick off.

Honorary league secretary Robin Powell was fuming at the decision. He lamented: "The weekend's weather forecast was good and despite pleas for them to make the pitches at the referees' discretion they fell on deaf ears.

"This is not the first time this season that pitches are in a fit condition to play on the Sunday morning yet we are denied this opportunity as the paying customer," he went on. "It appears the council do not want local football in this area to survive on a Sunday morning."

Powell intends to raise the issue with the council at the Football Liaison Meeting on February 22.