Gregg makes call for summer football

Institute's WKD Intermediate Cup game with Banbridge had to be postponed for the second time at the weekend. As a result, what was initially scheduled as a home tie for the Drumahoe club is now scheduled to take place in Bandbridge's home ground of Crystal Park on Saturday December 18th.

"This has been very frustrating. Because the game against Banbridge has now been postponed twice we've lost home advantage for our Intermediate Cup match against them. We are now going to have to travel to Banbridge for that game so not only do we miss out on the advantage of playing at home, the club misses out on a home gate," said Gregg.

Given that it's only the start of December, the Riverside Stadium boss expects there to be further cold snaps in the coming months and fears a repeat of last season when his players spent over a month on the sidelines as game after game was called off.

"We had this last season when we had a five or six week spell with no football, if it happens again then there has to be a big shout for a move to summer football. We are only at the start of December and even if this current spell of cold weather ends now, you can guarantee that there will be another cold snap in January.

"If people could see how many problems this causes for football clubs they'd definitely favour a move to summer football. When you have no matches, you have no gates and no money coming in. All we want to be doing is playing football, hopefully there's going to a thaw this week but you'd still have your doubts about whether this weekend's Irish Cup games will go ahead.

"I know it would be a big step to move to the summer, but you just have to look at the League of Ireland to see the benefits. They have very few postponements, the games are played when the pitches are in great shape and you probably get better football because of it. You also have the benefit of not having your games competing with televised English football," he said.

With a thaw expected toward the end of the week Gregg is desperately hoping that this weekend's Irish Cup game against Belfast side, Newington goes ahead at the Riverside.

"The players having training away at the DW Gym up in Crescent Link and Anne the manager up there has been very helpful.

"We've also be training indoors at Lisneal, obviously it's not the same as getting to train outdoors in terms of ball work but the lads have been keeping themselves in good nick," he said. Institute will continue to be without injured players Tommy Wray, Decky Divin and Vinny Sweeney for this week's game but Wes Ferguson could make a return.