Dens Park operations manager Jim Thomson apologised to supporters after Dundee’s First Division clash with Ayr United was called off 15 minutes before kick-off because of floodlight failure.
Supporters had started filtering into the ground when the stadium was plunged into darkness shortly before 7pm. Normal service was resumed briefly, but when the lights went out again at 7.15pm the decision was taken to postpone the match.
Thomson said: ”The control mechanism for the floodlights had developed a problem. We managed to reset it got them on again but then it’s blown again.
”So basically we were faced with a situation where we had to strip the whole thing down to find the fault but might not have been able to fix it.
”It would have taken 45 minutes to strip it down and then you might not have been able to find the relevant part.
”But we took the decision when there were very few people inside the ground. The last thing we wanted was lots of fans coming into the ground in pitch darkness as that would have presented a health hazard.
”It first blew just before 7pm but we had to make a decision sooner rather than later based on health and safety issues.”
Thomson added: ”I feel for the Ayr fans who travelled all that way, but what do you do? The floodlights were put in 12 years ago with the new stand and they’ve never let us down up until now.”
After the announcement the game was off, Dundee boss Barry Smith took his players for a training session on the darkened pitch using the lights in the Bobby Cox stand for limited illumination.
Afterwards he said: ”It is obviously disappointing as the players were really looking forward to the game. But there’s nothing we can do about the match being called off because of floodlight failure. We play Hamilton next week, but hopefully we can get it rearranged for the following week.
”I can’t remember this happening here before, but I have been down to Dumfries three times and the game has been called off, so maybe it is me. You have to feel for the Ayr fans travelling a long way in midweek, but there is nothing we can do about that I’m afraid.”
Ayr boss Brian Reid also expressed sympathy for the club’s supporters who had made the 350-mile round trip, but he confessed the cancellation was a bit of a relief. The game would have been Ayr’s seventh in just 24 days and the gruelling schedule has taken its toll.
He said: ”We heard there was a problem with the circuit board, but in some ways it was a blessing in disguise. We only had 14 or 15 players and couldn’t even fill our bench.
”We had five or six out, but hopefully next time we are up here we will be able to fill our bench and get in a few reinforcements.
”There is maybe someone looking down on us because we’ve not had the best of luck in terms of injuries and suspensions. Mark Roberts pulled out late this afternoon with a migraine to give us even less choices.
”We’re obviously very disappointed to be up here and be ready to play the game. I feel for the fans. It’s such a late call-off for them that a lot of our fans will face a long journey home without seeing a game.
”They travel in their numbers and will have paid a lot of money to get here. We’re in the same boat, we’ve got guys who have had to take time off their work and we’ve put food on for them. But it’s no-one’s fault and we won’t blame Dundee.
”We found out at about seven o’clock when the lights first went out that there was a problem. We delayed our warm-up and they said they were maybe going to try and fix it, but we were told 20 minutes later it couldn’t be fixed.”
He added: ”We have players who are part-time and have to rely on their bosses to get time off. Now they will have to ask for it again.
”The fans are being hit in the pocket as well, so I hope something can be done to help them with their travelling expenses. But Dundee have been hit in the pocket as well as because they’ve sold hospitality and that’s all gone to waste.”