Wigan V Bolton postponed

Tonight's Premier League match between Wigan and Bolton has been postponed, Wigan have just confirmed.

Wigan officials were keen to point out that safety issues alone - and not the state of the pitch or ground itself - forced their hand.

“The club stress that every effort has been made to ensure the game could go ahead,” added the statement.

“The DW Stadium pitch and the stadium itself are in perfect condition after the ground staff and stadium staff worked throughout the weekend, with the undersoil heating being switched on for the last 48 hours and the pitch being covered to protect against the snow and ice.

“The club and Wigan Metro also undertook extensive gritting on the roads directly around the stadium, much of this at the club’s own expense.

“However, these areas are actually equally as precarious as the untreated areas due to the freezing conditions last night and today.

“With a mile of private roads and 10 acres of car parks to maintain, much of which are still under ice, and with weather forecasts predicting a temperature drop to minus six degrees tonight, the collective decision between the club and the police has unfortunately been made to postpone the match.

“Several of the DW Stadium car parks have steep gradients which, despite extensive gritting, cannot be made safe.

“Also, to comply with Premier League regulations, the club require a certain number of safety stewards to be in attendance at matches.

“With the roads around the region being so hazardous the club could not guarantee that all the staff will be able to arrive safely prior to the kick-off.”

All tickets remain valid for the rearranged fixture, when a date is announced, but refunds are available from the ticket office.