Dundee club secretary Eric Drysdale has blamed climate change for the problems his club is facing with their pitch.

Tonight's match with Rangers was postponed for a second time today, the fifth match at Dens Park to face the axe this season.

The SPFL has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Tayside club while Rangers released a stinging statement criticising the situation.

But Drysdale points to the significantly higher rainfall this year as a mitigating factor.

He told Sky Sports: "I can understand people are annoyed at this and are looking at it as Dundee's fault. What I would say is that from the research we have done in the last few days this year's rainfall is 35 per cent higher than the 10 year average - that shows the effects of climate change on it and it shows the work we have to do urgently on the Dens Park pitch." 

Asked if the pitch is not up to standard, Drysdale defended the quality of the surface and pointed again to the extreme nature of the weather faced this season.

He said: "The pitch is of a very good quality but there have been a number of occasions when home fixtures have corresponded with bad weather such as the storms last October which was the highest rainfall ever recorded in Scotland and on the back of Storm Babette between Christmas and New Year when we had the fixture with St Johnstone. 

"It's very clear that work needs to be done to rectify the situation and we absolutely recognise the challenges we face and the club will do what is needed."