Nottingham Forest are livid with Bournemouth’s choice to postpone Friday evening’s Championship fixture on the Vitality Stadium.
The postponement – owing to reported harm to the stadium attributable to Storm Eunice – was solely confirmed at 4pm yesterday afternoon.
That was lower than 4 hours earlier than kick-off and when many Forest followers had already arrived on the south coast or have been a number of miles into their journey. Steve Cooper and his squad had made the journey down on Thursday.
Obstacles are proven blown over outdoors the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth on Friday
Sportsmail understands that Forest pushed for the sport to go forward and are annoyed that there was no EFL consultant on the floor to offer readability on the scenario earlier within the day. In the meantime, the Reds’ proposal to play the sport on Saturday was declined by Bournemouth.
Bournemouth’s official membership assertion stated: ‘Structural engineers have carried out an inspection of the stadium and have confirmed that the harm might pose a major danger to supporters’ security.
‘The continuing impression of the storm means the harm can’t be repaired in time both to fulfil the fixture on Friday, or at a re-arranged time on Saturday.
‘The postponement was beneficial by the membership’s Security Advisory Group.’
A trampoline pictured in a tree outdoors one of many stands on the Vitality Stadium on Friday
Storm Eunice introduced widespread harm and disruption to the UK, with file wind speeds of 122mph recorded on the Isle of Wight – not too removed from Bournemouth.
Nevertheless, climate reviews for the hours main as much as the sport and through the recreation confirmed that the storm was set to subside and Forest have been desirous to get the sport on.
‘There ought to have been an try to play the match on Saturday,’ a Forest membership supply advised Sportsmail.
Many Forest followers had already arrived in Bournemouth when the postponement was confirmed
‘There was no EFL consultant contained in the stadium to make an knowledgeable choice. Just a few indicators fell on the bottom contained in the stadium and the engineer stated they have been unable to get a cherry picker in to the stadium till Monday.
‘Forest have been prepared to play the sport up till 2pm on Saturday, however Bournemouth declined the provide.’
Contemplating there was no different EFL fixture scheduled to be final evening, it’s uncommon that there was no consultant from the affiliation on the Vitality Stadium.
Jefferson Lerma was one in every of eight gamers that Bournemouth have been set to be lacking on Friday
Forest’s frustrations additionally stem from the truth that Bournemouth will considerably profit from the postponement as they at present have seven gamers out injured and Jefferson Lerma suspended.
The Cherries are at present second within the Championship, whereas Forest are one level outdoors the playoffs in seventh.
It’s anticipated that the rearranged fixture shall be performed in early March.
