A MOVE banning the use of artificial surfaces in the Premiership from next season has been put on hold after a number of clubs sought a compromise.
Initial discussions over potentially scrapping artificial surfaces in time for next season have already taken place.
And it had been thought that a proposal banning their use would go to a show of hands at a meeting on Wednesday.
But the Daily Mail are reporting that the vote is now OFF with further talks scheduled next month.
The majority of Premiership teams still favour an outright ban but the SPFL’s competitions working group tasked with looking into the matter have agreed to hold last-ditch discussions with lower-league outfits most likely to be affected by any ban.
Kilmarnock and Livingston are the two teams in the Premiership who currently have synthetic pitches.
The Rugby Park side say they will go back to a grass pitch from 2025-26 but are looking for a two-year grace period to get the work done.
Raith Rovers and Airdrie, both of whom are pushing for promotion from the Scottish Championship, also have plastic surfaces at their stadiums.
Livi say that moving back to grass from an artificial pitch would cost them £2.5m.
Promotion hopefuls Raith have joined forces with Livingston, Falkirk, Airdrie, Montrose and Cove Rangers to draw up a paper proposing alternative solutions.
Proposed suggestions include greater quality control over the standard of artificial surfaces and the granting of a longer period of grace for clubs to make the transition to grass.
As many as 15 of the 20 teams in Leagues One and Two play their home games on synthetic pitches.
And recent weeks have illustrated the inability of SPFL bosses to get matches on on grass pitches – with SkySports seeking compensation to the tune of almost £100,000 for a number of late postponements at Dundee‘s ScotFoam stadium.
In other words, there’s plenty of work still to be done before any move banning the use of artificial pitches can proceed.
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