Well set for SPL pitch fine

Jun 15 2008 By Gordon Waddell

MOTHERWELL could still face an SPL fine for their Fir Park surface shambles last season.

The Lanarkshire side had to close their ground for nearly a month to repair the damaged pitchwhich had earlier forced a savage series of call-offs during the worst of the winter weather.

With Gretna ground-sharing at Fir Park the closure of the stadium in March also forced the SPL to switch a number of fixtures to Almondvale.

But while Motherwell took all the remedial action asked of them by the league to get their pitch back up to scratch the club may still face disciplinary action.

SPL chief Iain Blair said: "We are discussing the situation with Motherwell about why the problems happened, what they did about it, when and why.

"This is an ongoing process. I wouldn't like to predict the outcome.

The league board have engaged with the club who have guaranteed their pitch will be better next season.

"The problem of last season has been resolved entirely.

"It was a compaction of a layer a foot down in the substructure which meant when it rained, although it looked like the water was draining away, it only got so far before the pitch started filling up like a bath.

"That layer has now been pierced to allow it to drain properly - although obviously we are still at the mercy of the weather to an extent."