Millwall in limbo as tie is called off again

Millwall's FA Cup clash against Telford is set to be played at a neutral venue after the fixture was postponed for the second time today due to a waterlogged pitch.

A pitch inspection at lunchtime confirmed fears that the New Bucks Head ground was unfit for such a high-profile fixture.

The Conference club had borrowed heated covers from the Football Association and brought in 40 tons of sand in an effort to get the game on.

But torrential rain in the region meant that when the covers came off, the pitch, which was already soft and particularly boggy in one corner, would have been unplayable this evening.

The sell-out game was called off early to save the 1,500 Millwall fans making the journey to Shropshire. The Millwall players and coaching staff had travelled up yesterday afternoon.

The FA confirmed today that the tie will now go ahead next Wednesday.

If there is the need for a replay, it will be played on the following Saturday, which is the date allocated for the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Millwall are due to face Rotherham in a League game on that day, provided they are no longer involved in the competition.

Under FA regulations, Telford will get one more chance to host the game.

If, as now appears increasingly likely, they will be unable to fulfil the fixture at the third attempt, it will be switched to a neutral venue a few days beforehand.

The game could be played at Walsall's Bescot Stadium or Molineux, home of Premiership side Wolves. The winners of the tie will host Division One side Burnley in the fifth round.