Falkirk manager John McGlynn has implored Premiership clubs not to be too hasty when considering a ban on plastic pitches, saying that it is close to ‘impossible’ for clubs like his own to afford the installation and upkeep of a suitable grass surface.
The relegation of Livingston – one of just two clubs in this season’s top-flight to play on an artificial pitch – has raised hopes among many clubs opposed to their use that they may be able to vote through a ban this summer. The other, Kilmarnock, have already committed to reintroducing a grass pitch at Rugby Park.
Talks between the SPFL’s competitions working group and a number of lower league clubs who have plastic pitches are due to take place later this month, and McGlynn hopes that some kind of compromise can be reached that won’t bar the likes of Falkirk from earning promotion to the Premiership.
“When we came in the pitch was rock solid, but we laid a new surface,” McGlynn said.
“We have also replaced floodlights, with more work to come.
“It’s a brand-new pitch so for Falkirk to go forward with a grass pitch it would cost the club in excess of £1m.
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“It’s probably impossible. You look at teams like Raith Rovers or Hamilton, they might not get up if they don’t put a grass pitch down. Or what happens if they go up this season and they change the rule once they are in the Premiership. Do they get expelled? I don’t know.
“I’m not going to look too far ahead. I’m just looking to the first match in August. But we are fortunate we have a good one, especially when you consider some of the grass surfaces this season.
“We are trying to put the case forward. I understand the likes of Celtic and Rangers are going to push for these things, and fair play to Killie for going back to grass. But they have a very wealthy financial backer.
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“You can go all over Europe and play on these astro turf pitches, you look at the amount of them in the likes of the Scandinavian countries.”
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