RADICAL proposals to help avoid some postponements and starting the season earlier have been made by Troon manager Jim Kirkwood.

He was speaking out following a weekend which saw the entire SJFA West Region card wiped out by the cold snap for the first time this season.

There have been 149 postponed games since January in the West Region and the Junior Cup. The league is a month behind this time last season.

Kirkwood wants an earlier start to the season and said: "My solution is instead of starting the Ardagh Cup at the end of July why not start it in the middle of the month as the SPFL do with the League Cup. We only play meaningless friendlies so why not play competitive matches. The cup is important as it keeps up local rivalries - for instance it might be the only time Irvine Meadow play Kilwinning Rangers in a season, if they are in different leagues. Also the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup is important - anyone could win it and in this competition it might be the only chance say Ardeer Thistle could play say Auchinleck Talbot away. "

Kirkwood also wants a better pitch inspection system.

He said: "This week was exceptional with the bad weather. But a lot of the time common sense would tell you the pitch is okay. But if there's any doubt for a league game the match referee should inspect it as late as 11.30am and he should be paid from that time. There's only a maximum of 90 minutes between the teams in the Premier Division and First Division. We had a couple of dubious call-offs - our recent game at Shettleston was called off at 9.30am yet other games in the area were on - Shettleston Amateurs played. I'm not saying that's why it was called off but the Shettleston goalie was badly injured the week before and they didn't have a back-up. Also our home game against Petershill was called off by the SJFA a few weeks ago even although the pitch was perfectly playable."

The Portland Park gaffer also wants to see changes in Scottish Cup procedures.

He said: "Teams should have two attempts at hosting a tie and if they can't the tie should be played on an all-weather pitch in the area. Irvine Meadow had seven call-off's at Dyce and the same thing happened to us a few seasons ago at Camelon. It was a farce."

Troon on Saturday visit Renfrew and Kirkwood said: "We beat them at home earlier in the season and are aiming to win again."