SPFL Premiership could BAN plastic pitches next season as Neil Doncaster talks could lead to 'grass only' vote

Kilmarnock are set to return to grass ahead of the 2024/25 season but Livingston boss says ditching plastic is too expensive.

Plastic pitches could be banned in the Premiership before next season starts.

Record Sport understands SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has headed talks around outlawing all synthetic surfaces from the top flight, with further discussions scheduled with clubs in the New Year. And that could lead to a vote to go ‘grass only’ before the end of the campaign, with clubs granted a period of grace to get necessary renovation work done.

Kilmarnock chairman Billy Bowie has already announced plans to rip up the astro turf at Rugby Park in 2026 – and it’s expected all clubs currently using 3G surfaces will be given a similar timescale to switch. Livingston are the only other top 12 side to play on an all-weather pitch but had to postpone a home clash with Ross County on Saturday when sections of it were frozen solid

Boss David Martindale insists the club would be willing to follow Killie’s lead – as long as the SPFL are prepared to bankroll them with a hefty cheque. He said: “I’d rather have a grass park and if the authorities want to give us a couple of million then we’ll have one with undersoil heating and a separate training ground.

“Realistically, it’d cost us between £2m-£3m.We’re paying for VAR and energy costs have increased. Overall, we’re handing out £300,000-400,000 extra and our incoming revenue doesn’t match that. It’ll be five or 10 years before we can be where Kilmarnock are now.

“We’re the only team in the Premiership that doesn’t own their stadium – the only licence we own is the one from the SFA – and since returning to the Premiership in 2018 we’ve spent £600,000 upgrading the ground.”

Livi also splashed out to in a bid to have Saturday’s game played, using covers the SPFL compelled them to buy and spreading 200 kilos of salt.