Port Vale derby game against Crewe Alexandra in doubt amid winter weather

VALE'S home derby clash with Crewe on Saturday is already in doubt because of the cold snap.

Vale Park's playing surface was still frozen yesterday after sub-zero temperatures penetrated pitch covers – which were subsequently removed on Friday – before snow fell over the weekend.

But hopes of the pitch thawing out before Saturday appear bleak with minimum temperatures set to dip below freezing again this week... and as low as -4C on Friday night.

Club secretary Bill Lodey said: "Steve Speed (Vale's head groundsman) and his ground staff will review the pitch on a daily basis and make judgment calls based on its condition and the weather forecast.

"That may mean leaving the covers off the pitch so any sun or warmer temperatures can get to it.

"The covers are there to protect the pitch from frost down to -3C, they're not heat covers.

"So once the frost had penetrated the covers there was no need to keep them on the pitch because they would have only trapped the cold air.

"We hope the forecasters have got it wrong because this is a derby so, like with any game, we're working as though the game is on."

Vale want a return to action after Saturday's clash at Shrewsbury was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Meanwhile, manager Micky Adams has put his players through their paces on the Vale Park terraces and in the club's weight room and gym as the club's training pitches are also still frozen.

"If you look at the weather forecast it doesn't look very good, so Saturday's game looks extremely doubtful," said Adams.

"But we can't allow the players to switch off mentally.

"The one thing we'll preach to the players is that the forecasters have been wrong on many occasions so they've got to be ready Saturday's game.

"We'll try to keep them focused as best we can."