STL Northern League clubs won't be forced into switching venues for FA Vase ties, according to an FA spokesman.

With another freeze taking a grip on the north east, the home Vase ties involving Shildon and Dunston have been postponed for the third time, and have been re-arranged for January 8th. The other home tie involving a Northern League club at Whitley Bay seems destined to follow suit with an inspection due on Saturday morning.

Some fans are concerned that the FA will switch games to their opponents' grounds if the matches are postponed again -- similar to the rules regarding postponements for the Durham Challenge Cup -- but there appears to be little likelihood of that.

FA competitions officer Chris Darnell said: "There are no provisions within The FA Vase rules to switch or reverse a tie. Whilst it is our main objective to get games played on time or as soon as possible, the FA is sympathetic with clubs that are doing all they can to try and get games played in such difficult weather conditions." Billingham Synthonia's away tie at Westfield has also been postponed, with Ashington's game at Dunkirk likely to follow the same fate. They have also been re-arranged for Saturday January 8th.