Town groundsman Alan Ferguson is preparing himself for weekend snowfalls ahead of Sunday's Portman Road derby with Norwich. The Meteorological Office has warned that the east of the country could well be affected by snow prior to Sunday's crucial clash.

The east coast of the US has recently had signaficant amounts of snow and Ferguson says this subsequently affects Britain: "We normally tend to get the tail end of it about 14 days later, once it has worked its way across the pond, and that's what is happening this time."

It is unlikely even in the event of heavy snowfall that the surface would be unplayable, the pitch cover and heaters are able to overcome the worst cold snap.

Ferguson says that off-field factors are more likely to lead to a postponement: "The police and safety people will have a big say if the roads and stadium accesses are affected. There remains a threat from other areas.

"We would naturally hope that the game goes ahead as planned and we are making every effort to ensure that is the case."

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