Saturday’s home game against Hull City is in doubt due to the continuing Arctic conditions. While the pitch is expected to be fine, supporter safety both on the way to the ground and at the stadium could see the match postponed.

The pitch has been under cover since the U23s match on Monday with hot air blowers in use, snow having been cleared to the periphery.

Unless there is further heavy snow on Friday evening or Saturday morning the surface is expected to be playable.

However, the area around the stadium is frozen with temperatures not expected to increase significantly before Saturday, while some of the toilets in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand are frozen.

"“There are doubts over the game going ahead as we stand at the moment,” Town stadium manager, Greg Pillinger, told the club site.

""“The safety of the supporters is priority and if we can’t guarantee that with the conditions, then the game can’t go ahead. "

“All the concourses and seating need to be safe for the public to view the match along with the perimeter of the stadium and routes to and from bus stops, car parks and the railway station. This has involved consultation with the local authorities.

“Likewise the police and the Highways Authority have been consulted for their views on the major road networks leading to and from Portman Road.

“Importantly, our own matchday staff, both stewards, catering and corporate, all need to be able to get to the stadium safely and in the correct numbers, in particular the stewards to ensure we meet the minimum numbers to adhere to the Safety Certificate.""

“So, there is much more to it than getting the pitch playable but we are doing all we can to get the game on.”

The Hull squad are set to fly on Friday afternoon, although they have a contingency plan to travel by coach, and the prospects of the game taking place as scheduled will be discussed at a meeting at Portman Road tomorrow morning.

As things stand, manager Mick McCarthy's pre-match press conference will take place at 1pm and will be live on TWTV, however, if the match succumbs to the weather won't take place.

Already, tomorrow's Ex-Players' Association Hall of Fame Dinner has been postponed and rescheduled for Friday 4th May, while Tuesday's Legends of Darts event was also called off and has been rearranged for Wednesday 18th April.

Saturday's U18s and U16s matches at Bristol City have also been postponed, while all academy PDP trials and training sessions were also victims of the weather and will take place next week.

Portman Road's last postponed first team fixture was the game against Watford on Boxing Day 2010 which was surprisingly called off 90 minutes before kick-off due to a frozen area of the pitch.

The Middlesbrough match in February 2012 was abandoned after 37 minutes with the score 0-0 with sections of the pitch having frozen.

Photos: ITFC

Ipswichbusiness added 17:41 - Mar 1 How hard is it to thaw out some toilets?
-8

osborne added 17:46 - Mar 1 Although the pitch sound sorted I can't see all the other stuff being resolved by Saturday. Shame. I was looking forward to it. We've played well in the last few games despite not picking up too many points. COYB anyway!!
11

inghamspur added 17:59 - Mar 1 Much rather watch the game on a balmy evening in April than freezing me whatsits off
8

blue75 added 17:59 - Mar 1 H&S gone made surely the ice and snow can be cleared from the front rows if not close them and move ticket holders it's not like there isn't any space. Roads are already clearing paths outside can be cleared as well just another example of lack of willingness to spend a little.
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truethurstonblue added 18:02 - Mar 1 I hope it is off...apart from having to drive to Portman Road...it will be so b.cold.
3

Pessimistic added 18:04 - Mar 1 I'd say there is only a 10 % chance of this game going ahead and probably even less by tomorrow afternoon sadly.
2

BloomBlue added 18:08 - Mar 1 Why aren't Ipswich Council workers out there clearing the paths people pay council tax for that. If the council is short of money then the staff can surely work 4 or 5 hours for free that's not asking a lot
-16

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 18:18 - Mar 1 BloomBlue, you are kidding right?
6

olimar added 18:20 - Mar 1 "Why aren't Ipswich Council workers out there clearing the paths people pay council tax for that. If the council is short of money then the staff can surely work 4 or 5 hours for free that's not asking a lot". Id imagine the streets and paths around Portman Road are pretty much bottom of the priority list, given that they are going to be practically unused except for 3 hours on Saturday. I dont understand why they should work for free to do it. Or why it might be ok for them to just work some extra hours, presumably on top of the busy schedule they already have. But if they are short of people to do it, and its not asking a lot to get people to work for 4/5 hours for free, maybe you can offer?

5

jas0999 added 18:29 - Mar 1 Hopefully a decision will be made tomorrow morning for sake of both sets of fans who travel a long way to the game.
18

PortmanTerrorist added 18:35 - Mar 1 Anyone up for an ironic chant of "Evans, your weather is sh*te!" ? He is primarily to blame for most else that is wrong in and about our Club these days, so don't see he should not take the rap for the weather too.
-1

billlm added 18:37 - Mar 1 Call it off early, helps everyone,
13

coolcat added 18:38 - Mar 1 I come up from London for the home games. There will be engineering works on greater anglia on Saturday. So a rail replacement bus service from Newbury Park to Ingatestone. Hopefully they can make a decision sooner rather than later.
3

strikalite added 18:44 - Mar 1 Well the weather obviously isn't going to get any better, typical Town dithering on an obvious decision... Just the conditions for a good dig....
-2

martin587 added 18:44 - Mar 1 Yes,I agree a decision needs to be made early tomorrow for all traveling supporters.I travel up from Thorpe-Bay Southend so I will want to see a firm decision by midday Friday.
8

bluebury25 added 18:45 - Mar 1 A little bit of snow and we fall to pieces.
5

Westy added 18:49 - Mar 1 It used to be like this every winter and people just carried on. But if they are to call it off, it should be announced tomorrow rather than Saturday.
5

Dissboyitfc added 18:57 - Mar 1 Health and safety gone mad, spurs played their cup game last night!
4

12th_Man added 19:03 - Mar 1 A little bit of snow and we fall to pieces. And our fans make me laugh if that bothered About them game going ahead or not go and sweep the paths yourself
1

black_shuck added 19:09 - Mar 1 I would give all my fame for a pot of ale, and safety.
2

dirtydingusmagee added 19:09 - Mar 1 its not just about the pitch being playable, ive had doubts about it going ahead since Tuesday,cant see it being played after todays weather with more to come. Looks like we'll have that ''game in hand'' back lol.
5

coolcat added 19:10 - Mar 1 It's not just to do with whether fans can put up with the weather or not. It's normally the train services which cause the most problems. Also people who work there, such as the stewards, need to be able to get there, for reasons mentioned above.. Greater Anglia is normally worse than most for cancelling services, especially to those living in areas where there are fewer trains/buses.

3

Freddies_Ears added 19:33 - Mar 1 And we don't want any repeat of it going ahead, but then getting abandoned because the ref decides that a square foot of turf is a bit hard.
5

Swn98 added 19:37 - Mar 1 Dont know why your putting your two Bobs worth in Dirty you dont go anyway.
-3

Currie10 added 19:49 - Mar 1 Bit of a shame considering our ' style of play ' would probably be best utilised in weather like this :) 3-0 H win v Leicester anyone!?
2

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