Normal Service Continues....
(Stuart Crowther)

IT IS NORMAL SERVICE  for Scottish Football this weekend - or at least in as far as the weather will allow!  The SFA today are assuring football fans that there is no immediate danger to fixtures going ahead and described speculation of the foot and mouth crisis halting the game in Scotland as 'over the top'.

Reports this morning suggested that while this weekends programme would go ahead, there was a serious threat to fixtures in coming weeks with a ban already having been place on football at all levels by the Irish F.A.  Today however SFA spokesman Andy Mitchell reassured Scottish fans, saying: "We spoke with the Scottish Executive yesterday and we will be in constant contact with them, it is the same all over the country, we need to take advice from such as the Scottish Executive and then decide how best to respond.  At this stage there is no need to take any action, but if the Scottish Executive advise us otherwise we will respond."

Easter Road is ready for the clash with Motherwell on Sunday, managing director Rod Petrie confirming today that the under-soil heating has done its job and there are no problems in the approaches to Easter Road.  Temporary floodlighted will be put in place ahead of the game, while sales of tickets for the clash reported to be 'steady'.  Fans are being reminded by the club that purchase of a ticket for this game will give priority for purchase of tickets for the clashes at Easter Road with Hearts and Celtic after the league splits.

Hibs v Motherwell - no foot and mouth danger! (sns)

Hibs meanwhile have been reassured that they will not have a blank Saturday on Scottish Cup quarter-final day, March 10th - but that only came about when the SFA ordered Kilmarnock and Inverness to play next Tuesday evening.  Both clubs are protesting at the decision today, Inverness because they did not wish their fans to make the long journey once again on a midweek date, and Kilmarnock because they did not wish to postpone their live television clash with Rangers.  Killie will now lose up to £100,000 in payments from the television company, but Hibs fans will be relieved as it means their trip to either Kilmarnock or Inverness will not be in midweek.  Had that been the case and Killie had won through, it would have been the 4th time Easter Road fans would make the long midweek journey to Ayrshire this season.

Russell Latapy and Lyndon Andrews were expected back at Easter Road today, having taken part in Trinidad and Tobago's 1-0 defeat this week.  Latapy is reported as having taken a knock in the game and Hibs boss Alex McLeish will wish to check his fitness before deciding on the side to face Motherwell.  Franck Sauzee remains a doubt for Hibs, having taken a knock against Celtic last week, but the Easter Road boss has far fewer problems than his visitors this weekend who have lost another two of their stars to Wigan.