Rangers face the price of a call off

Stafford Rangers could be left trying to fill a black hole in their finances if their Boxing Day derby at home to AFC Telford falls foul of the weather.

Their Marston Road pitch was unplayable today, frozen stiff with snow and ice on top of the playing surface, with conditions unlikely to relent until much later this week.

Without a rise in temperature, postponing the visit of their local rivals appears inevitable, which is likely to leave Rangers with a shortfall in revenue.

The match would likely be rearranged for a midweek in January which, compared to a Bank Holiday fixture, could result in a much smaller attendance.

It happened to Rangers at the start of 2010, when last season's corresponding fixture against AFC Telford on New Year's Day was called off, with the rearranged game on Tuesday January 19 drawing 670 fans, rather than the four-figure gate expected first time round.

The club are desperate for that not to happen again with finances currently at their tightest at Marston Road, having played just two games at home since manager Tim Flowers took charge in October.

Chairman Mike Hughes said: "The Boxing Day game has got to be considered a doubt, if the forecast for the temperatures ahead are right. If it stays like this, I can't see the match being played, it would be far too dangerous.

"It's never a help when home games are postponed and we have only had three in 12 weeks, so we sorely need the Boxing Day fixture to go ahead because we wouldn't get the same gate if it was rearranged.

"When you lose a Bank Holiday attendance you never get it back, we depend on every source of income and we just hope the forecasters have got it wrong!"