Drogheda Utd chairman Fiachra Kierans: 'There are new floodlights ready to come in' as season opener postponed

Drogheda United and Finn Harps will have to wait to begin their 2018 First Division campaign after referee John McLaughlin called the game off, judging the lighting to be unsatisfactory.

 

Confusion surrounded United Park as the kick-off time of 7:45pm approached, with both teams ready to walk out on to the pitch.

 

The initial reports were that there was a floodlight issue and a decision was being made on whether or not the game would be played.

 

It was then announced over the PA system in United Park, around ten minutes after the scheduled kick-off time, that the game had been called off.

 

Speaking to extratime.ie following the decision, Drogheda United chairman Fiachra Kierans explained how new floodlights will be installed at United Park in the coming weeks.

 



“It’s very, very disappointing. We’ve played all our pre-season with the lights as they are,” Kierans said.

 

“We were aware that there were bulbs gone, as were the FAI. There are new floodlights ready to come in. That will be done over the next four or five weeks – all the paper work is signed off on that.”

 

While Kierans understands the referee’s decision, he felt the timing of the decision was disappointing and praised Finn Harps and their travelling support.

 



“We had followed all protocol procedure. It’s not our choice.

 

“If the referee is calling it off in terms of player welfare and safety, I’m not going to argue with him but it’s disappointing for the fans and the club, and it adds to the perception of maybe the league isn’t as strong as it is.

 

“It’s just a bulb issue. The floodlights are working. Bulbs are missing. You can’t argue with the facts. I bow to the referee’s decision. If that’s what he feels, he won’t get any argument from me.

 

“I’m disappointed on that late call off. I absolutely accept the referee’s prerogative to call the game off.

 

“I’m disappointed that maybe he didn’t call it off a bit earlier, Finn Harps had a long way to travel and it’s a long way home to Ballybofey.

 

“Having been on the other end of it last season [against Harps] with the floods, we appreciate the club and their supporters.

 

“They brought great support up with them tonight. Finn Harps were very gracious, and they accepted it’s an issue out of the clubs control.”

 

Drogheda now face the challenge of not knowing when their next home game will take place. The Boynesiders are scheduled to face St. Mochta’s in the EA Sports Cup on March 5 before hosting Athlone in the league just four days later.

 

The Drogheda chairman explained that they were already in talks about switching the Athlone game to Athlone Town Stadium and admitted the St. Mochta’s game is also now under threat.

 

“We had already discussed the switching of the Athlone game because we had known the new floodlights were coming in at that stage and there would be ground work so that had already been under consideration.

 

“The EA Sports game against St. Mochta’s is probably under threat now. If tonight’s referee wasn’t happy, I wouldn’t expect any other referee to be happy.”