Postponed Game: Not A Problem Say Mixu

Last updated : 10 December 2010 By Ed_ScottishFitba
Mixu Paatelainen is not worried about the effects of a possible fixture backlog despite Kilmarnock's second league game in succession falling foul of the weather. Saturday's game with Celtic at Parkhead has been postponed on the advice of the police due to the conditions surrounding the ground. The pitch is playable but the access routes are still affected by the snow and ice. The Rugby Park boss had his players training at the Toryglen Regional Football Centre in Glasgow all week in preparation for the trip but has now turned his focus on next week's planned home game against Hibs. The big Finn said: "It doesn't cause any problems. We trained this week and prepared for the match but our sights are now on our next opponents. Nothing really changes. There are no problems but we do realise we have to play somewhere along the line and possibly midweek. However, we don't mind. We can play two matches a week - the boys are fit enough."

While undersoil heating means the SPL pitches are playable, the surrounding areas and road conditions have led to most of the postponements during this cold snap. Paatelainen is surprised at how cold weather in Scotland often debilitates the country. He said: "I am a little bit (surprised), I must admit. What has happened this week is everyday life over in Finland - now you know how much we suffer over there. The climate over there is totally different though - it is much more severe with temperatures at minus 20 and 30, and three or four times the amount of snow you get here. But everybody over there is prepared - it doesn't stop anything. There are no problems with the roads. We have winter tyres and plenty of equipment to clear the snow. But we get snow here as well so perhaps we need to be prepared. They are saying this sort of stuff will happen more in the future as well so maybe we need more lorries to shift the snow - and stronger salt to spread about as well. It's unfortunate, what's happened this week, and hopefully the people who look after the roads will learn."

Once again the advocates of summer football and winter breaks will come to the fore and the former Hibs manager recognised the validity of their arguments. However, he believes there are still more questions than answers when it comes to solving the perennial problems poor weather conditions cause Scottish football. He said: "I like summer football. The pitches are in tip-top conditions, supporters like it because it is not freezing cold or raining, people can got to the matches in t-shirts and shorts and enjoy the matches so it is different. If you don't go to summer football, maybe consider a winter break. I would also like that, but when to have it is the question. There are plenty of questions like that."
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