Anger as Walsall's game called off with just 55 minutes notice
WALSALL'S game against Norwich was called off today - just 55 minutes before kick off.
Hundreds of Norwich fans and the club's first team had already arrived at the Banks's Stadium by the time the decision was take to call off the game due to a frozen pitch.
Walsall's Boxing Day fixture at Bristol Rovers was also called off due to the bad weather - but before Walsall fans had set off for the game.
Walsall player Darren Byfield, writing on his Twitter account, said players were already in their kits by the time the 2.05pm decision was made.
The decision to call the game off so late prompted widespread criticism straight away - with Talk Sport's Stan Collymore branding the decision "a disgrace."
But referee Mark Haywood said: “I can only apologise for the lateness but they have tried so hard to get the game on. There are just pockets or little areas on the pitch where it's still firm. The really hard frost we've had over the last few days hasn't helped.
“The ground staff have really worked as hard as they can and done a tremendous job but unfortunately there is an element of risk if we play the game, regarding players' safety and I'm not prepared to take risk and risk players being injured or possibly doing a cruciate and being out for the rest of the season.
“Unfortunately, on the grounds of that, with pockets of ice on it we've said we'll postpone the game to a later date."
