Wolves optimistic of game go-ahead

Wolves today insisted they are "optimistic" of their Boxing Day home game against Wigan going ahead despite the Arctic conditions.

Providing the forecast of no more snow proves correct, club officials expect Molineux to be playable and for the surrounding areas to be safe enough to prevent a second successive postponement following Sunday's Black Country derby at Albion.

Secretary Richard Skirrow said: "We remain optimistic of the game going ahead.

"The undersoil heating has been switched on for about three weeks – it's controlled via a thermostat and automatically kicks in as required – and it's working well.

"Undersoil heating is of only limited use if we get a heavy snowfall in a short period of time too close to kick-off.

"But the forecast suggests we've seen the last of the snow before the Wigan game so that should cease to be a problem, although the temperatures on Christmas night are expected to be very cold – down to minus 7 degrees C or possibly double figures.

"The pitch should still cope with that and, providing there's no more snow, we can make the pitch and the surrounding areas safe."

Wolves are also having to cope with associated concerns inside the stadium.

Skirrow said: "One of the problems is frozen water pipes in the stands, because the concourses get very cold and we're dealing with various leaks and bursts at the moment.

"But the club is making every effort to get the game on. A body of stewards cleared the training ground on Tuesday before joining a team at Molineux doing the same.

"Since then we've had more snow so they've got to do it again but, providing we have no more snow, I'm confident we can make the stadium and approaches acceptably safe.

"We outsource some gritting and have some of our own supplies as well as a gritting attachment and, between all those elements, we're usually OK."

Yesterday's planned training game at Molineux was switched to a smaller area at Compton, because management didn't want the snow compacted at the ground.

Compton doesn't yet have undersoil heating. The pipes were laid for it in the summer, but the gas supply to fuel it from the main building needs to be upgraded.