SWANS Football Club senior team manager David Cannon has slammed a North East Football Union fine for refusing to play its scheduled away match at Bridport last month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Cannon said that his team's decision was vindicated indirectly at the July Dorset Council meeting where Cr Steve Arnold tabled a series of questions about the poor state of the Bridport playing surface so soon after a make-over.
``To be fined $1000 by the NEFU for us showing our duty of care over an issue that is clearly a problem, and was a problem during July, displays irresponsibility and negligence towards player safety,'' an angry Mr Cannon told The Examiner.
``Our sides arrived at Bridport prepared to compete and were looking forward to playing.
``But after inspection the ground, we were not prepared to risk injuries to our players.
``We also took into account the reported dissatisfaction of ground conditioned for the July 12 Bridport v Winnaleah match and the relocation of the July 19 Bridport v Scottsdale Crows due to poor ground conditions.
``The NEFU meting on July 28 assured our delegate that the ground should be OK if the area received no more rainfall - in the lead-up to our match, Northern Tasmania recorded an extreme weather event resulting in major damage from wind and rain.
``Bridport received a considerable amount of rainfall prior to match day.''
Mr Cannon said that the St Helens Football Club's responsibility lay with ensuring its duty of car towards its players, not the maintenance of the Bridport football ground.