SOCCER players are kicking their feet in frustration.

And, as they hit back in anger, Wigan Metro has become their prime target.

The Leigh & District Amateur Football League has not played a match since December 13 - and the backlog is rapidly becoming alarming.

Last Saturday's fixture list was abandoned when the Leisure Department informed officials all their pitches would be closed because of the wet weather.

But soccer bosses insist some pitches were playable.

And they are furious about what they claim was a total Metro U-turn.

Controversy raged through the week with the on-off fixture list.

On the Wednesday the Leisure Department declared pitches would be open and subject to a referee's inspection.

"They confirmed the decision would not change before the weekend," said League secretary Steve Speakman.

But the following day pitches were closed.

"No explanation was offered as to why the decision was a complete U-turn," added Speakman.

"Club secretaries greeted the news with confusion, then disquiet as they had to contact all players to inform them they faced another blank Saturday.

"Why, within 24 hours, were pitches open then closed?

"And some pitches were, in fact, playable on the Saturday."

But Wigan Metro are adamant they made the correct the decision in blowing the whistle. A spokesman said: "We were hopeful matches could be played. But the weather deteriorated and we were forced to close the pitches.

"It must be said that some teams, NOT those in the league, used the pitches on the Saturday and they were badly cut up because of the conditions."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.