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Monday, 3 March 2008, 12:17 GMT

SPL groundshare plans 'shelved'

Fir Park Groundsharing in the Scottish Premier League is likely to become a thing of the past following problems with Gretna and Motherwell games at Fir Park.

The Fir Park pitch has deteriorated with the two clubs using it every Saturday and the poor weather has led to a number of postponements.

Now a senior Scottish football figure has told BBC Sport that groundsharing is unlikely to be approved in future.

Gretna could not play at Raydale Park as it failed to satisfy SPL criteria.

The club, which was promoted from Division One at the beginning of this season, was given permission to use Fir Park for its home SPL games while Raydale was upgraded.

But the surface has deteriorated and a number of Motherwell and Gretna games have been postponed as a result.

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"I think we have seen the end of groundsharing in the SPL. I don't think we would allow it again after this season's lessons at Fir Park," the source told BBC Sport.

The SPL previously allowed Inverness Caledonian Thistle to share Pittodrie while bringing the Tulloch stadium up to SPL standard.

There will be a pitch inspection on Tuesday morning ahead of Gretna's SPL match against Dundee United.

In January, Motherwell manager Mark McGhee called for a deadline for pitch inspections.

"I think there now has to be some kind of threshold," he said.

"The authorities have to look at, say 12 o'clock as the latest we can have an inspection."

He said the SPL must act to save supporters from making wasted journeys.




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Related to this story:

Well action after second call-off (05 Feb 08 |  Scottish Cups )
McGhee appeal over postponements (30 Jan 08 |  Scottish Premier )
Gretna submit groundshare plans (30 Mar 07 |  South of Scotland )

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