PETERBOROUGH have been forced to call off their mouth-watering Easter Monday derby clash against Ipswich due to major repair work at the East of England Showground.

The T Balfe Construction Panthers were due to entertain the Witches in their opening League Cup Midland Group outing of the 2016 season, but the meeting has been postponed on health and safety grounds.

A six-figure project to correct a number of electrical faults at the Alwalton venue will not be completed in time to allow it to go ahead.



Peterborough promoter Ged Rathbone said: "It goes without saying it is a huge blow to see our first meeting of the season postponed.

"We can only apologise for the inconvenience it causes for supporters of both clubs.

"But there is no one more disappointed than myself as we face the prospect of losing one of our most money-spinning days of the season.

"We will liaise with Ipswich to organise a new date as soon as possible."

Panthers hope the extensive work at the East of England Showground will be completed in time for their home clash against Scunthorpe onFriday, April 1 to go ahead. Rathbone describes the prospects of that meeting going ahead as 'very positive'.

The club's first competitive meeting of the new season will now be a trip to Sheffield on Thursday, March 31.