Pembrokeshire's football managers have been tearing their hair out of late and it has nothing to do with their team's performances on the pitch. In fact, the opposite is true as the extraordinary weather conditions have forced umpteen postponements, leaving team bosses to voice their concerns regarding the backlog of fixtures they will face come the end of the season.

With November being a washout and December's freezing conditions making it dangerous to play, January has succumbed to the snow, with no games played at all last weekend.

It has led some teams to question whether the league will be able to finish at all, while others are hoping the season can be extended to accommodate clubs that are well behind on their fixtures.

Other managers are bemoaning the fact that despite the lack of play in recent weeks, some of their players will face a further couple of weeks on the sidelines as they are unable to serve their suspensions after being sent-off in previous games.

"It's been a nightmare," said Tenby boss Mike Lewis. "And to make it worse, we've got two players who will be forced to miss even more weeks as they are suspended.

"We had a lad sent-off eight weeks ago and another a few weeks after that. If we do play this weekend, they won't be able to play for another month at least.

"I can't remember the last time I saw the team together. The pitch was clear on Saturday, but it was too hard to play. It's meant to get milder this weekend, but we may be faced with more flooding when it thaws. It will be nice to get back to normal to be honest."

St. Clears manager Charlie Smith is used to hardy conditions working on a farm, but even he said the conditions are unprecedented.

"In 25 years of senior football, I've never known it like this.

"I don't like mid-week games at the best of times, but I fear we're going to be playing up to three games a week come the end of the season when the nights get lighter.

"You wonder whether it's best to play teams once instead of on a home and away basis. I'm sure the cup games will be able to be played, but as for the league, I'm not sure we'll be able to finish unless we extend the season.

"We've had one league game in eight weeks, but there's nothing you can do about it is there?"

Smith's views were echoed across the county, with Narberth supremo Nigel Thomas describing the situation as 'hopeless.'

"We've only played 10 league games which means we've got 16 to go and with at least two cup games as well, it's going to be tough to finish.

"I think all the clubs should get together and ask the league if the season can be extended, because we're going to find it difficult to play all those games mid-week towards the end of the season."

Kilgetty manager Norman James said the situation has got so bad his team have been unable to keep up with their training.

"Everyone wants to play these games but it's been impossible. One minute it's too wet and then it's too hard because of the frost.

"We've even had to cancel our Astroturf sessions as the snow made the road too dangerous to travel on and the pitch was covered anyway."

While managers and players across the county are left twiddling their thumbs, spare a thought for league fixture secretary Brian Hawkins. He's got the dubious honour of re-arranging fixtures to coincide with clubs' cup commitments while balancing this out with the need to complete the league programme before the cricket season starts.

"Officially we can go on until the end of May," he said. "But traditionally we've always tried to finish by the end of April to allow the cricket season to get underway as many clubs share grounds with their local cricket teams, and I'm still hopeful that will be the case.

"We helped ourselves by playing an extra week of mid-week matches at the start of the season, but this has been an exceptional year for local football. I don't think I can remember as many postponements as this. We'll just have to wait and see what happens before making any decisions about extending or not."

TOMORROW'S

GAMES

Last Saturday all matches were again postponed, while fixtures for tomorrow (Saturday) - weather permitting - are as follows:

Senior Cup 2nd Round (2 pm KO): Haverfordwest County v Kilgetty; Merlins Bridge v Neyland; Prendergast Villa v Hundleton; Tenby v Narberth.

Division One: Clarbeston Road v Goodwick United; Monkton Swifts v Hakin United; Pennar Robins v Solva.

Division Two Cup (2 pm KO): Saundersfoot Sports v Carew; St. Ishmaels v St. Clears.

Division Two: Camrose v Haverfordwest Cricket Club; Johnston v Pendine; Milford Athletic v Letterston; Milford United v Angle.

Division Three: Fishguard Sports v Manorbier United; Hakin United II v Monkton Swifts II; Herbrandston II v Solva II; Hubberston v Goodwick United II; Lamphey v Pennar Robins II; Lawrenny v Merlins Bridge II; Narberth II v Broad Haven.

Division Four Cup, 1st Round 2nd leg (2 pm KO): West Dragons v Tenby II.

Division Four: Carew II v Milford United II; St. Florence v Milford Athletic II.

Division Five: Haverfordwest CC II v Lawrenny II; Kilgetty II v Fishguard Sports II; Letterston II v Pembroke Boro II; Pendine II v Lamphey II; St. Clears v Neyland II.

WWFA

INTERMEDIATE CUP

Fourth round of the Tony Nakonecznyj Insurance Brokers WWFA Intermediate Cup, to be played on Saturday, February 6, is as follows:

Blaen-y-Maes or Resolven v Ystradgynlais; Bwlch Rangers v Neyland; Coelbren Athletic v Dafen Welfare; Narberth v Wellfied Athletic; North End v Winch Wen; Pengelli United v Plough Colts; Pennar Robins v Morriston Olympic; Seaside v Gowerton Juniors.