Pars get second pitch appeal date

John Yorkston does not want to go back to grass

Dunfermline will meet the SPL board on 11 July to make a second bid to retain their synthetic playing surface.

The SPL board voted on 2 May to ban the artificial pitch for use in the top flight next season.

But the Fife side appealed against the decision to the SFA, who decided the case should be referred back to the SPL board to be reheard.

"We are running out of time," said Pars chairman John Yorkston. "But there is guarded optimism."

The SFA have now informed Dunfermline and the SPL of their reasons for reaching their decision.

Yorkston said: "They are of the opinion that Dunfermline's complaint is well founded.

"Basically, they have agreed we have a valid complaint. This has been reverted back to the SPL and the next step is in their hands.

"We are pleased with this because it confirms everything we have said up until now.

"But there are a variety reasons. They took evidence when we weren't there and there a variety of things they did wrong.

"If you could imagine a court case where the prosecution introduces a couple of witnesses where the jury and the defence knew nothing about it."

The SFA voted to approve the use of Fifa-approved artificial surfaces this month by a 73-7 majority.

That appeared to clear the way for East End Park's controversial surface, first installed in September 2003 as part of a Uefa-endorsed initiative, to be used for cup matches.

Dunfermline's original surface was much criticised, but an improved version was laid near the end of the season.

At the time, Yorkston said that this new surface had passed all the Fifa tests "bar one".