FREEZING temperatures and postponements have made it a frustrating festive period for the players, coaching staff and supporters of York City.

By the time Saturday's FA Cup trip to Grimsby comes around - and there is no guarantee at this stage the tie will be going ahead - we will have played just two games since our last cup match, the 2-0 win over Reading, almost a month ago.

After that game we were relishing the Christmas period and the next round of the cup. We are now into the New Year and yet we haven't played much at all

Indeed, had the temperatures dropped just slightly last Saturday then it was likely the game against Shrewsbury would also have not gone ahead.

As it was, the game did get the green light and given the difficult conditions I think it was a decent game.

But supporters must be very disappointed when games are called-off and as a manager it is equally frustrating. I can assure you as a player you feel even more frustrated.

No matter how much psychologically you prepare for games, with the weather as it is there is nearly always a doubt and that is not ideal.

The game at Halifax on New Year's Day was called off more than 24 hours before kick-off, which was of some help.

But for the Rochdale and Hull games we were preparing right up to the last minute when they were called off.

There is always a disappointment when games are called off, but even more so when you have done all your planning and preparation.

As I have said, the one thing you can't do is beat Mother Nature. With the temperatures being so low even grounds with under-soil heating have struggled.

In some respects, at least we can say we are fairly fresh because of all the postponements.

It has given some of our squad a chance to shake-off their bumps and bruises and the last two weeks have probably helped Jeff Miller, our physiotherapist, in the treatment room.

But at the same time, all these games that have been postponed are going to have to be played at some stage.

The season is finishing early this year because of the World Cup and that is making it difficult to squeeze all the games in.

And even now we are going to be playing virtually two games a week, so with more games to add it is really going to test the squad and our resources.

Of course, we should be used to it by now given that we had the floods last year and a number of games were called off because of water-logging and frozen pitches.

But the bad weather, uncertainty, frustration and subsequent postponements have again raised the question of the need for a winter break.

I have made public my views on the matter before. I believe a winter break would be a good idea.

However, it is not just the unfavourable weather that leads me to such a conclusion.

Of course, if you only have a six-week break in the summer as opposed to the three-month one at present, you are less likely to have games called off in the better weather.

Financially, it would help because clubs wouldn't have as big a gap where money is not coming in while it has already been reported that we have been left with a bill for around £10,000 to cover the policing and security costs for the postponed Boxing Day clash with Hull.

But I also think having a six-week break in the winter and a six-week break in the summer would simply break the season up better.

Most other European countries have a winter break and for countries like Germany and Italy it is not necessarily done because of the weather.

I also think international games could then be played during those periods, easing the 'clubs versus country' rows that currently seem to happen on a regular basis.

To finish on, I would just like to wish readers of this column and supporters of York City Football Club a very happy New Year.