GREAT HARWOOD chairman Bill Holden was fuming after their huge money-spinning tie against FC United was called off an hour before kick off on Sunday.

Referee Chris Parsons ruled the pitch unplayable at 1pm as both teams, managers and a number of fans were in or around the Interlink ground.

It meant the cash-strapped Robins were denied a crowd of more than 2,000 to give them the financial boost they are so desperate for.

The game against the North West Counties League Two leaders has now been re-arranged for Monday 27 February.

"I have never been so disgusted in my life," raged the chairman.

"It was ridiculous. It should have been played. I stood with Accrington Stanley chairman Eric Whalley before the game and we both said "no problem".

"Accrington had played Forest Green on an icy Friday night and the pitch was worse then.

"FC United's manager, our manager and both teams had said there was no problem and we were all just getting ready for the game.

"I couldn't believe it when the referee walked on and then off and said it was unplayable. It was 1pm on a Sunday afternoon and the weather was getting warmer. The ref said one end of it - the one near the stand - was too hard and unplayable. I'm gutted."

Harwood's run of bad luck seems to be never-ending. They are homeless because the nightclub next door to their Showground home burnt down and destroyed the changing rooms.

They were then relegated last season and the fixtures didn't give them the lucrative tie with FC United early in the season.

"Every other team have played FC United and we are the team who need to play them most for finances," said the chairman.

"They have played at Stanley twice and got 2,000 once and 3,000 once and we would have been happy with anything in between that to tie us over because we have no bar takings or things like that.

"The last three or four years have just been a nightmare.

"We were affected by the foot and mouth disease, then 12 months ago the changing rooms and club house burnt down and last season we were deducted four points for a simple administrative error which ended up with us getting relegated.

"And now this happens. I just can't believe it. Apart from Accrington Stanley, who have been brilliant with us, no one is helping us out and it is so frustrating."

While the chairman is raging, he can take some comfort on the field that his team are in a rich vein of form.

They are on a ten game unbeaten league run and, with any possible restructing of the league, need to finish as high up as possible to stand a chance of promotion.

"I really believe we would have beat FC United on Sunday," said manager John Hughes.

"I had the strongest team I could have out and I was confident we would get three points.

"So as well as for financial reasons, we wanted to play.

"But we have some big games coming up and it is up to us to keep going now.

"We are playing some great football at the moment. Scouts are watching a couple of our younger players and it is good stuff.

"We are fifth in the league and we do believe we can go higher."

Harwood travel to New Mills on Saturday (ko 3pm)

  • HARWOOD'S match against Holker Old Boys at home, scheduled for February 27, has been moved forward to Monday 13 February.