Motherwell boss Mark McGhee called for a deadline for pitch inspections after their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Celtic was postponed less than an hour before kick-off.

Fourth official Iain Brines passed the Fir Park pitch fit following a 3pm pitch inspection, but referee Charlie Richmond called off the game at about 6.55pm.

There had been some rain - but not a heavy downpour - between the inspections, and the ball stopped dead in the turf when Richmond bounced it on large waterlogged areas in front of the East Stand.

McGhee refused to blame anyone but believes the SPL must act to save supporters from more wasted journeys.

"I think there now has to be some sort of threshold," McGhee said. "The authorities maybe have to look at say 12 o'clock as the latest we can have a pitch inspection.

"If we had the pitch inspection at 12 it would probably have been off.

"I saw it at three and for me it was playable. There has been a little bit of rain.

"Our players have gone on the pitch since it was called off and they said it was unplayable.

"We can't be blamed, the referee at three o'clock can't be blamed and the referee now can't be blamed."

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan agreed with his former Aberdeen team-mate.

"To protect the fans we need to do something like that," he said. "We need to have a better way of doing it.

"I think officials of both clubs need to be there at the same time, that would be handy.

"We could discuss it and talk about the problems either side might have."

Strachan backed the decision though and admitted the game - which was due to be broadcast by Setanta - could have descended into chaos.

"I can understand why the referee put it off," he said. "There will be a lot of questions asked but it's not for me to answer them.

"For the supporters it's horrific. What they enjoy is watching football, they do enjoy tackles but I don't think they enjoy a farce and it might have been like that - here's the rain coming down now.

"I was on there before the game with Alex Smith and Alex says it was going to be a problem and then the referee had a look at it and he said it was dangerous for the players. And I believe that as well.

"There were areas we could play but at least a third of the pitch where it wouldn't be possible.

"And it's live on television, we are trying to promote Scottish football, how professional we are and it might have been a problem."

The postponement adds to an already crowded fixture backlog, which could worsen soon with wintry weather forecast ahead of Saturday's Scottish Cup fifth round.

The game was officially scheduled for January 6 but was postponed following the death of Motherwell skipper Phil O'Donnell.

Meanwhile, McGhee revealed he had made a "bit of progress" in the transfer market.

Motherwell earlier had an offer for former Fir Park left-back Steven Hammell rejected by Southend, while McGhee has targeted former Derby midfielder Bob Malcolm.

McGhee said: "We have not signed anyone yet but tonight we are expecting a couple of phone calls and we still hope to make some signings before tomorrow night.

"Steven Hammell is a possibility, we are close to that one."

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