Brian Graham’s Partick Thistle side have been forced to move Sunday’s SWPL game against Glasgow City to an alternative venue after complaints were made by Hibs and City about their temporary base in Maryhill’s Lochburn Park.
It is understood that a dog is at the heart of the issue after a bag of balls at the side of the pitch during Thistle’s opening SWPL game of the season against Hibs was urinated on by the animal.
It prompted Hibs to raise concerns to league bosses with City, who were due to play at the ground this weekend, also insisting that the ground is not compliant with current SWPL standards.
Petershill – which Thistle have used as a home ground – is currently out of use as the stadium undergoes extensive refurbishment with the pitch being widened and new floodlights installed. The moves are being made to try and take City into line with current UEFA stadia requirements for European football.
As such, Thistle have been using Maryhill’s Lochburn Park for home games while City have been using K-Park in East Kilbride as a temporary home base.
Both City and Hibs have complained about the standard of facility on offer at Lochburn Park – with the dog cited as the main culprit for the compromising of standards.
The likelihood is that Kirkintilloch Rob Roy’s stadium will be used this weekend but Thistle are understood to be irked by the enforcement move after they said they were given the full go-ahead to use the ground by league bosses before the season kicked off.
Firhill is being used on September 1st for the league game against Aberdeen as the Jags look to get supporters into the ground.
There were just five points between Hibs and Thistle last season in the league as Thistle secured a top six finish for the second successive campaign.
Thistle are on the road tonight (Wednesday) as they take on Spartans as they look for their first league win of the season.
Defending champions Celtic face Motherwell in Airdrie as Elena Sadiku’s side seek to maintain their winning start.
“We weren’t pleased with the performance on Sunday but we were pleased with the result,” said Sadiku. “It is been a strong start to the season but we know that as a team we can be better.”
Glasgow City take on Eva Olid’s Hearts who have had a ferocious start to the season. City lost to Celtic at the weekend and will look to bounce back immediately.
Rangers have enjoyed an unblemished start to their campaign with two wins out of two. They take on newcomers Queen’s Park.
Aberdeen face Montrose with youth academy director Stuart Glennie stepping into the managerial role on an interim basis. Colin Bell, appointed as manager in June, has stepped down from the role after citing “personal reasons” for his decision.
Elsewhere, Hibs – also with two wins from two – host Dundee United.
