Pars to rip up artificial pitch

John Yorkston had said he would fight to retain the pitch

Dunfermline Athletic have bowed to a Scottish Premier League order to rip up their controversial artificial surface and replace it with grass.

The Pars had hoped for support from world governing body Fifa to retain the pitch used for the last two seasons.

But, following a board meeting, the Pars announced: "DAFC will now lay the highest-quality grass surface available within the UK at this time.

"The grass surface to be laid was destined for Wembley."

Dunfermline chief executive David McPherson explained that, due to slight delays in the construction plan for England's national stadium, Dunfermline would receive the grass instead.

It is similar to turf used by Manchester United, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland.

Additional funding has been secured to cover the cost of the surface Dunfermline chief executive David McPherson

"We are now working flat out to ensure that this new playing surface will be ready for the approaching season as fast as possible," said McPherson.

"We will be requesting from the SPL a reversal of our first home game date, which we hope will be satisfactory."

Dunfermline had complained that replacing the artificial surface with grass would cost them £500,000 and would end their prospects of operating at break-even in the near future.

But McPherson stressed that: "Additional funding has been secured to cover the cost of the surface.

"Fans can really help Dunfermline at this time and we would urge them to renew their season tickets now as opposed to waiting until the first game of the season.

"We are also launching a Pars Pitch Fund Appeal through the Dunfermline Athletic Improvement Society."

Saturday's friendly against Gretna will now be the last match to be played on the artificial surface much criticised by rival players.

Dunfermline had feared that they would be unable to lay grass for their opening two home league fixtures.

However, they now hope that their match against Motherwell on 6 August will be the only one requiring a switch.

The Scottish FA had ordered the SPL to look again at the decision reached earlier this year to ban the latest version of the pitch.

But, after a five-hour meeting at Hampden, the SPL board backed its original decision, with Dunfermline promising to battle for compensation.

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston told BBC Sport: "They rejected our application because the pitch hasn't reached Fifa two-star status, but it has passed all the tests apart from being subjected to 3000 hours of sunlight and that will have happened by September.

"We offered to put down a surface that does have two-star status and they also rejected that because it would not be ready for the start of the season."

Yorkston was angry that the SPL did not have an independent appeals committee and that the board had made its decision despite Dunfermline having the support of half the member clubs.

An SPL statement had said: "It was noted that Dunfermline FC had applied for, and had been refused, transitional relief from Uefa during season 2005-06."