Justin Edinburgh blasts 'embarrassing' Gateshead (From South Wales Argus)

Justin Edinburgh blasts 'embarrassing' Gateshead

10:11pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Latest Football By Andrew Penman

NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh has hit out at Gateshead after the club’s Blue Square Bet Premier clash was postponed for a fourth time.

Gateshead were due to host County in December but the match was switched to Rodney Parade with the International Stadium pitch unplayable.

Pitch issues at the Tynesiders’ home ground has forced the rescheduling of all home matches since February.

Gateshead arranged to play most of their home games at Hartlepool’s Victoria Park but they have also played at Carlisle, Blyth and York and their final match of the season is scheduled for Middlesbrough’s Riverside.

Despite that fact the home clash with the Exiles was due to be played in Gateshead on February 26 but was postponed when the pitch was declared unplayable.

The game was then moved to Hartlepool on March 11 but was again postponed when the League Two club decided that the pitch needed to be rested after poor weather.

It was rescheduled again for Thursday at York City.

But the waterlogged Bootham Crescent failed a pitch inspection at 5pm on Wednesday.

A new date is yet to be announced but a furious Edinburgh says the Conference must now step in and take action with his side’s title hopes at stake.

“It’s beyond a joke. It’s embarrassing,” said the County manager.

“This is the fourth time it’s been postponed and we will now be forced to play 11 games in 29 days.

“I don’t know any league in the country where a team going for promotion doesn’t know when or where they’re playing an important fixture.

“We did them them a favour back in December of reversing the game to help them out but we’ve had nothing in return.

“I’ll have to look at the rule book closer to see if any team can play in this league without a fixed home stadium.

He added: “When we asked to play at Rodney Parade last season we weren’t allowed to move games from Spytty Park but Gateshead have had five or six different venues this season.

“The fixture list as it is now puts my players at an unhealthy risk.

“Every time we come up with an option nothing is forthcoming from Gateshead and something should be done about it.”