Yorkston defends Pars' new pitch

The current pitch at East End Park has many critics

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston has hit out at critics for condemning the Pars' new plastic pitch before it has even been installed.

Dundee United's Eddie Thompson is behind a motion to have artificial surfaces banned from the SPL.

"I think a lot of people have set views on the issue, like Eddie Thompson," said Yorkston.

"The standard of these pitches is getting better and you would expect it to keep on doing so."

The top flight clubs will meet on 10 March to discuss the matter and Yorkston has vowed to resist the move to force grass to be re-laid at East End Park.

The Pars' current surface, which was installed near the start of last season, has attracted lots of criticism, with a majority of players and managers condemning it.

But Yorkston insists the new surface, which will be installed after the home game with Hearts on 5 March would be much better.

The new pitch, which arrived from Canada earlier in the month, will have to be torn up again at the end of the season if Thompson gets his way.

And Yorkston will argue at the SPL meeting that Thompson's motion amounts to a re-writing of the rules.

At the moment it would need eight clubs to vote against the synthetic surface, but Thompson's motion would see a similar number required to back artificial pitches.

As well as renting out time on the all-weather surface to local players, the Pars have also saved on the cost of hiring another ground for reserve and youth team fixtures.

Yorkston said: "Re-turfing would cost around £200,000. We gain that in one year from our pitch.

"In theory we could replace it every year at no cost to us."