A frustrated Luke Wilkshire has called for improved wet-weather protocols after the Wollongong Wolves NSW National Premier Leagues clash was washed out.
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Due to play Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon, the hosts called off the game on Saturday night.
The current protocols do not require a Football NSW official to inspect the pitch before a decision is made. Given those regulations, the governing body is confident the Rangers adhered to the proper process.
For Wilkshire, such a process is unacceptable for an elite competition.
"It was a disgrace," Wilkshire said. "Someone at Mt Druitt cancelled the game and Football NSW didn't have an independent official inspect the pitch.
"I don't believe games should be called off when a club decides they don't want to play. If we're calling games off because of 11mm of rain, we have a problem.
"We didn't have a say in it and Football NSW just accepted it. It's beneficial to them, off the back of two losses, they didn't fancy playing the premiers.
"For me, Football NSW can't allow a club or person to say a game's washed out."
Wilkshire and the players only learned of the decision to abandon the game when Mt Druitt posted it on social media.
The match was the only NSW NPL1 game to be called off this weekend, with the five other games taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
The clash will now be rescheduled for later in the season and will likely be played midweek.
In announcing the decision on their Facebook page, the Rangers stated their desire to protect their pitch for the duration of the season.
"Senior games on Sunday V Wolves cancelled as ground is saturated and not capable of sustaining a 1st Grade or senior days football without wrecking our fantastic playing surface for the season," the post stated.
"Not what we wanted but it's best for the long term quality of Popondetta. New game times will be communicated once agreed between clubs."
The Wolves were preparing to travel to Sydney in a bid to get their season back on track after last week's shock loss to the North Shore Mariners.
Wilkshire, who believes the situation is emblematic of underlying issues at Football NSW, was pleased with the energy he saw from his players throughout the week and said the squad was ready to produce a much-improved showing.
The suggestion of shifting the match to Albert Butler Park was knocked back, with the Wolves instead forced to contest an internal friendly on Sunday afternoon.
"The boys are naturally very disappointed," Wilkshire said. "We've been waiting since Sunday to get out there.
"After the way we performed last week, the boys had trained hard, worked hard all week leading into this game. It's disappointing Mt Druitt didn't want to play.
"I suggested playing here at Albert Butler, but everything fell on deaf ears and they decided not to play."
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