Probe into CCTV of King's Lynn pitch ahead of postponement

A football club is being investigated over claims its sprinkler system was put on hours before a game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

King's Lynn Town were due to play South Shields in a 15:00 GMT kick-off on 14 February, but the Norfolk club announced the postponement a day before the match.

An anonymous source has released CCTV footage of a sprinkler in operation at the ground at 10:38 GMT on the Friday.

The club has been contacted for comment.

The Linnets, who are just four points above the relegation zone in National League North, which is the sixth tier of English football, had injury problems ahead of the game against promotion-chasing South Shields.

Announcing the postponement, the club said: "Due to a high amount of rainfall and insufficient drainage, our pitch has too much sitting water and has become waterlogged."

In a statement following the release of the CCTV image, the National League said it was "aware of the allegations and [is] conducting an investigation".

The match has been rearranged as a midweek fixture, which means the North-East club will have to make the journey to The Walks for a 19:45 GMT kick-off on Tuesday, 17 March.

South Shields chairman, Geoff Thompson, told the BBC: "We are aware the matter is being investigated by the National League.

"We've also seen the evidence of the sprinkler system being on for a very considerable time in advance of the referee pitch inspection, which was conducted remotely via telephone with the match referee and hosted by the KLTFC groundsman."

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