PERTH — St Johnstone have said they are confident the electrical fault which closed McDiarmid Park's East Stand for the visit of Falkirk has been fixed, after an investigation reportedly traced the problem to a single, extremely overworked kettle.

"The stand tripped three or four times on the morning of the match," said stadium electrician Brian Moffat, 58, wiping his brow with a scarf. "We checked the cabling. We checked the control boards. Then we found it — one kettle, behind the snack bar, plugged into an extension lead, plugged into another extension lead, plugged into what appeared to be a toaster."

Club officials insist fans were relocated safely to the Geoff Brown and North Stands, where many reportedly enjoyed the "novelty of a different angle on the disappointment".

The kettle has been temporarily retired. "It's been through a lot," said Moffat. "It's been boiling water for half-time Bovril since 1989. It's seen promotions, relegations, a cup final. It needs a rest. We've given it a wee towel."

Supporters have expressed concern for its welfare. "That kettle is part of the club," said season ticket holder Jean Carnegie, 74. "If it goes, I go. Possibly to the North Stand. But I'd be very upset about it."

With the East Stand expected to reopen for Saturday's match against Dundee United, the club has introduced a strict new protocol: no more than 400 pies to be heated simultaneously and all Bovril to be stirred anticlockwise "to reduce load on the grid".

SSE has reportedly placed a team on standby at Perth's substation, citing "a significant risk of a half-time surge."