BOLTON Wanderers fans are backing a petition to reinstate Southend United’s groundsman – after he was sacked following the Whites’ postponed match last Saturday.

Ken Hare, who has been with the Shrimpers for 27 years, was shown the door after a frozen pitch meant the Whites were unable to play their League One match away at Roots Hall on January 21.

The referee deemed the pitch unplayable at 11am, by which time many Whites fans had already made the 250-mile journey from Bolton.

The dismissal has prompted anger among Wanderers followers. Bradford-based Whites fan, Danny Welton, 27, created a petition at change.org calling for Mr Hare to be reinstated.

The petitions says: “We Bolton fans are disgusted with this and want to work together to get him his job back.

“It is always disappointing when a match is postponed, but he does not deserve to lose his job – which we are all sure he was very good at – just for this.

“Stand up for Ken and let's show what a fantastic fan base we can be. COYWM!”

Mr Welton added: "I speak on behalf of every Bolton fan when I say we have a fun, friendly, compassionate and caring fan base. By the looks of it my fellow wanderers fans have reacted positively."

Posted on Monday, January 23, the petition had already garnered 525 supporters in less than 24 hours.

Mr Hare’s dismissal was confirmed by the club via a statement given to the Bolton News’ sister paper, the Southend Echo.

The Southend United statement read: “People generally lose their position as a result of not doing their job.

“The necessary decision surrounding Mr Hare was a disappointment and of course not taken lightly.

“Very few people have been dismissed at this football club over the past 20 years and that even extends to Managers.”

The last match to be postponed at Southend United’s Roots Hall ground was in 2013.

Mr Hare’s dismissal came only weeks after Southend United had publicly praised the ‘tireless’ work of their ground staff in making their pitch playable during bad weather earlier this month.

To sign the petition, visit change.org and search for 'Ken Hare'.