WITH FREEZING conditions descending on Scotland, the Scottish Cup found itself stalled by the weather yesterday with seven of the scheduled 15 fourth-round ties having to be postponed.

The most controversial of those postponements came when Partick Thistle's home encounter against Dunfermline was called off just 75 minutes before kick-off and later rescheduled for January 22. But Thistle chairman Allan Cowan last night blamed the club's groundsharing arrangement with Glasgow Warriors for the postponement, with the Scottish Rugby Union now responsible for the maintenance of the pitch and the groundsman who misjudged the weather being employed by the rugby governing body.

"The truth of the matter is that the heating wasn't switched on because the groundsman didn't expect it to be quite as cold as it was overnight and I think he also expected the weather to be sunnier this afternoon which would clear any frost," said Cowan.

"We've had a change of arrangement for the park. With the Warriors groundsharing with us the SRU are responsible for the maintenance of the pitch so our own regular groundsman is no longer in day-to-day control of the park. The undersoil heating wasn't switched on until first thing this morning. It's a lesson learned."

Cowan said: "You can bet you're bottom dollar that knuckles will be rapped. It's something that will be dealt with. It will cost us a great deal of money."

Glasgow last night pledged to probe their part in the cancellation. Spokesman Stuart Martin said: "We will have a full debrief early next week to find out the reasons behind what has been happening."

Clyde's lunchtime encounter against Dundee United, which was due to be televised, fell after an 11am inspection, with a frozen pitch at Broadwood meaning the game is now due be played on Tuesday evening. The First Division side, however, last night admitted they are still desperately trying to convince the Scottish Premier League side to switch the tie to Thursday to avoid missing out on a TV windfall. Sky will be unable to provide coverage of the match if it is played in two days' time.

Kilmarnock were told shortly after midday that their game against Airdrie would not go ahead and that encounter will now go ahead a week on Tuesday. Huntly's tie against Dundee was also called off after an early morning inspection, with the game rescheduled for Tuesday.

Cove Rangers against Ross County was also postponed, as was Livingston versus Cowdenbeath. Livingston's game will now take place on Tuesday, with Cove's match being played a week later. St Johnstone announced shortly before midday that their match against Raith Rovers was off, with the game now scheduled for Tuesday.

Fifth round draw: Morton/ Gretna v Queen of the South Falkirk/ Aberdeen v Hamilton/ Brechin Airdrie/ Kilmarnock v Celtic Hearts/ Motherwell v Huntly/ Dundee Livingston/ Cowdenbeath v Partick/ Dunfermline Hibernian v Rangers/ East Stirling Cove Rangers/ Ross County v St Johnstone/ Raith Rovers St Mirren v Clyde/ Dundee Utd Ties to be played over the weekend of February 2,3.