NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has branded the late postponement of today’s League Two clash at Chesterfield a “disgusting” decision.

Overnight snow in Derbyshire covered the pitch at the Proact Stadium and the match was postponed less than three hours before the scheduled 3pm kick-off.

Hundreds of County fans were already travelling to Chesterfield and the team were just 20 minutes from the stadium when the decision was made following a second pitch inspection.

South Wales Argus:

The Spireites posted a series of messages to supporters on their official Twitter page this morning.

The first post at 8.38am said: “Following overnight snowfall, ground staff are currently assessing the conditions at the stadium ahead of this afternoon’s game. We will update as soon as there is anything to report.”

And at 11am they told fans: “We’re planning for today's game at home to Newport County AFC, after the referee took a precautionary look at the pitch earlier this morning following overnight snowfall.

“Fans are advised that unless weather conditions worsen significantly, the game will go ahead as planned.”

But at 12.07pm they broke the news that the match would not go ahead “following a lengthy pitch inspection.”

The match is likely to be rearranged for Tuesday, May 1, as Chesterfield already have fixtures on April 10 and April 17 and County are hosting Accrington Stanley in a rearranged game on April 24.

That would mean the Exiles finishing their season with two long away trips to Chesterfield and Carlisle United in the space of five days.

That is not ideal for Flynn’s men but his main concern was for the supporters who had a wasted Easter Monday journey.

South Wales Argus:

“It’s disgusting how late the decision was left,” said the boss.

“We were only 20 minutes from the ground and we’d paid for a meeting room in a hotel for our pre-match briefing.

“But it’s the fans I feel for because they were all on the road or on the trains.

“The players had all donated their complimentary tickets as well so club volunteers could get in free of charge and I hope Chesterfield offer them the same for the rearranged date.”

Striker Paul Hayes was likely to miss yesterday’s match with a calf strain but Flynn struggled to see any positives from the postponement.

He added: “It does mean a few of our walking wounded a bit of time to recover but there are one or two who haven’t had many minutes and were excited about playing so it’s disappointing for them.”

County remain 12th in League Two with seven games left to play.

They are now 11 points below the play-off places with a game in hand over seventh-placed Coventry City, who were beaten 6-2 at home by Yeovil Town.

Crawley Town missed the chance to leapfrog the Exiles after drawing 1-1 at home to Swindon Town.