Update on Match Abandonment
 
After tonight’s match with Motherwell was abandoned due to floodlight failure, Aberdeen FC’s Chief Executive Duncan Fraser gave his reaction to the media:

“As people were aware a couple of Friday’s ago, our transformer at the stadium failed at Pittodrie. We have been able to source a new one, it will be installed Wednesday going into Thursday. It will then take another week of testing before it is operational.

“In the meantime, we have been using two generators that were more than capable of running the power for the floodlights and the stadium.

“They have run successfully over the last week or so but unfortunately the generator that was running the floodlights tripped. The engineers who were on site, powered it down and then tried to reset it. When the lights were restarted, they went off again a short time after. At that stage, there was no guarantee that it was not still going to be an issue therefore from a spectators point of view, a safety perspective and a playing perspective, the decision was taken to abandon the game.

“The generator that was running the floodlights was only at 60% of capacity but when it tripped for the second time there was no option but to abandon the game.

“From our perspective, the most frustrating element is for the supporters who have turned up tonight and for Motherwell. We know what it is like to travel such distances in winter, it’s not particularly great. We will make sure everyone who was here tonight will have a ticket for the rearranged game and we will make sure Motherwell are fully compensated for their costs.

“The transformer has never had an issue before. you then bring in top quality generators and ultimately when one of them trips there is only so much you can do. There are only so many precautions and tests you can take. We use the generators for European games and have never had a problem with them before.”

All supporters who attended tonight’s match at Pittodrie are advised to retain their ticket and await further information.

Details on the date for the re-arranged match will be announced in due course.