Arbroath boss backs referee’s decision to abandon game against Stirling Albion

Arbroath player-manager Paul Sheerin was in full agreement with referee Frank McDermott’s decision to abandon the Red Lichties game against Stirling Albion after just 18 minutes at gale-lashed Gayfield on Monday.

The wind made decent football almost impossible and it took Arbroath more than six minutes to get the ball out of their own half.

It was soon obvious that the game was descending into a lottery and the players on both sides didn’t seem surprised or disappointed when the referee brought proceedings to a close, although a sizeable group of fans voiced their displeasure at the decision.

Sheerin said: ”The referee was right to start the game and to be fair he did speak to both sides beforehand and we both agreed we’d be willing to give it a go.

”There’s no doubt the wind got worse as the game continued. But the referee had a tough decision to make and it would have been an even tougher decision for him if Stirling had scored.

”It’s the worst conditions I’ve seen since coming to the club. But it’s bad for the fans as well. They don’t deserve to see a game played in conditions like that.”