MARK WARBURTON has encouraged the Rangers board to write to the SPFL over Alloa Athletic’s decision to narrow their pitch. The Championship leaders travel to the Indodrill Stadium tomorrow with their manager critical of the controversial move and questioning whether it is in the spirit of the game.
Jack Ross, the Alloa manager, took steps to reduce the playing area by five yards on either side ahead of the January 2 Championship match against Falkirk. Alloa lost that game 1-0 and drew 2-2 with Morton on Tuesday in their only other home game since the change was made. His side had previously taken one point from a possible 27.
There is no suggestion that Alloa have done anything wrong by narrowing the pitch. Article H19 of the SPFL rule book states that the minimum measurement for the pitch size is 95m long by 60m wide.
But Warburton, who admitted that his players had been preparing for the change in dimensions during training this week, would like Stewart Robertson, the Rangers managing director, to raise the issue with the powers-that-be at Hampden.
Asked whether he felt Robertson should contact the SPFL he said: “Yes. That’s my opinion. We got an email to say the pitch had changed by 30-plus feet. My immediate reaction was ‘how does that happen, what’s the consultation process? It’s just my opinion but I think it’s quite a big decision.
“Apparently, it can only change after every team has played there – I think that is the direction.
Rangers trained on Alloa’s pitch prior to the sides’ previous meeting in August, a match the Ibrox side won 5-1 but did not take the opportunity to do so this time, Warburton saying that he did not think the alteration would affect his players mindset even if it did upset his preparations
“My team selection will be influenced by the size of the pitch certainly,” he said. “We won’t change our philosophy or pattern of play but in terms of players who can deal with the football technically in tight areas I’ll change it because there is more than 30 feet of a difference so we’ll adapt with a different team.
“It’s not an excuse at all. We’ve got to prepare for the challenge. It’s good for the players to have challenges. It will be tight and we are looking forward to it. We’ve trained all week for it. You’ve got to prepare for it, you’ve got to look forward to it. There’s no trepidation. It’s a big game, it’s another three points so our focus is very much on dominating the football and turning in a big performance.
Graeme Souness infamously narrowed the Ibrox pitch ahead of a European Cup second leg tie against Dynamo Kiev in 1987 to combat the threat of the Ukrainians’ wingers including future Rangers wide man Alexei Mikhailichenko. Rangers subsequently overturned the first-leg deficit to win 2-1 on aggregate. Warburton, though, says it is not a tactic he would employ faced with the same situation.
“It was 30 years ago. I wasn’t part of Rangers and I would never personally do it. That’s not a criticism of Graeme [Souness]. But what happened was 30 years ago and every time I mention this pitch someone throws Dynamo Kiev at me. I understand why, because if you aren’t a Rangers fan you’re going to throw that straight back.
“But it’s a completely different era now. The whole game in the last 10 years has changed dramatically. My point is it’s changing something mid-season. Can you imagine mid-season the goals get five feet wider or four feet higher? I sure I’m not alone in these sentiments.”
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