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Potential ban on artificial pitches in the Premiership - No to just 12 clubs voting


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Hi folks, most will have likely seen the moves to have a Premiership-club-only vote on banning artificial surfaces in the Scottish Premiership (if you want to get up to speed, have a look at the 'artificial pitch vote' thread in the Premiership forum and this from the Record: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/premiership-clubs-vote-banning-plastic-32311245 ).

I imagine that for every club that has an artificial pitch, and many that don't but have a good chance of having one in future (likely ever club barring the top 5/6 teams in the country!), a ban of artificial pitches is viewed as highly damaging. But most importantly, the corrupt part of this seems to be having only 12 clubs vote on something which impacts the whole league system and the principles of merit-based competing/promotions etc. Drawing inspiration from the 'chasing VAR' thread and the idea to contact your clubs directly, I have created a template email for those who wish to raise this with their club to help prevent the ban/ensure a fair vote. I hope it is useful (and obviously edit as you see fit :)).

I have sent this email to my club (Raith Rovers). I know some people will say 'emails do nothing' etc. But a) fans can make a difference by communicating with their club (see The Rangers being blocked from entry into Premiership/Championship) and b) smaller teams can use their votes to collectively out vote some of the big boys (see COVID voting). Regardless, I at least want to be able to say 'I tried' and not just be gutted about a change that I view as massively damaging for the wider game, my club and my town but not having done anything about it. I strongly urge every fan of every club impacted (now and by restricting future options) to contact their clubs. Cheers!

 

Email Template

Dear [name of CEO/supporter group/supporter liaison officer],

I'm writing to implore the club to strongly advocate (and make clear to us as fans how and when this is being undertaken):

  1. to oppose the proposed ban on artificial pitches in the Premiership that is being discussed.
  2. ensure that, as a matter that effects all SPFL clubs, any vote that does take place should i) entail all SPFL clubs being entitled to vote and ii) the rules regarding sufficient support in each division having to be met should be adhered to.

All 42 clubs voted on VAR. And all 42 clubs had to vote with regards to the outcomes of the COVID-forced ending of the leagues. It seems utterly unfair, bordering on a corrupt 'pulling up of the drawbridge', that only Premiership teams would vote on artificial pitches in the top flight. At the time of writing 20 clubs could still potentially be in the Premiership next season, and 32 can potentially be in the Premiership by the start of season 25/26 - having only 12 vote is preposterous.

Artificial surfaces are deemed good enough for the Champions League (see Bodø/Glimt). Grass pitches (see Dundee this very week) are notoriously unreliable in the Scottish climate. The argument that artificial pitches are bad for the game is just wrong.

[Optional: Our artificial surface has allowed our club to connect to [place] and its local population in a way that is unprecedented in our history, allowing [your team] to make major positive contributions the community. This is not something that [your club] or any other club who have (or may have in future) an artificial surface should be denied by virtue of playing in the top flight. The ability for our club to be a hub of the community and make a major contribution to the physical and mental wellbeing of people of all ages in the local community is what makes me truly proud to be a [your team] fan. It is simply not possible to do this without our artificial pitch and having to change this should we ever be promoted would be a massive disappointment and ultimately a long term own goal for the health and success of the club.  End of optional]

Many thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

HIT THE CHANNEL

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Agree with what you say - not that it will directly impact QOS for the forseable future!  It just reinforces what we already know about the avarice of the Premiership clubs and how they try to control it through their one sided voting structure as an effectively "closed shop" with the twin objectives of keeping the minnows down in their place and ensuring that the "established clubs" continue relatively safely to maximise revenue either directly or indirectly from the over-entitled OF.  The dangers of the Premiership and the implications of its voting structure were of course raised prior to its creation by the minnows but of course we were deemed irrelevant then and are even more so now.

NB - this could of course directly impact the Rovers this season, although I'm sure any such directive wouldn't be enforced so quickly as by next season.

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3 hours ago, Otis Blue said:

Agree with what you say - not that it will directly impact QOS for the forseable future!  It just reinforces what we already know about the avarice of the Premiership clubs and how they try to control it through their one sided voting structure as an effectively "closed shop" with the twin objectives of keeping the minnows down in their place and ensuring that the "established clubs" continue relatively safely to maximise revenue either directly or indirectly from the over-entitled OF.  The dangers of the Premiership and the implications of its voting structure were of course raised prior to its creation by the minnows but of course we were deemed irrelevant then and are even more so now.

NB - this could of course directly impact the Rovers this season, although I'm sure any such directive wouldn't be enforced so quickly as by next season.

Indeed. And this is the key point, I think. Even if you don't like Artifical pitches, unless you support one of the real big boys, Premiership-only voting on issues that impact all the way down the SPFL should be fought hard to stop it becoming the norm.

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I'm torn about this as it would be amusing to see Raith penalised due to their disgusting self preserving behaviour during covid and reconstruction vote. Downside is it may have an impact on my club

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  • 2 months later...

I have emailed my MSP regards this proposal, and have received the following back.

I refer to my email sent earlier today.  I have now had a response from the Chief Executive of the SPFL.  He says in his reply:-
 
“Many thanks for your email below, regarding the resolution recently requisitioned by a number of Premiership clubs. If passed, the effect of this resolution will be to phase out the use of artificial pitches in Scotland’s top division by summer 2026. Artificial pitches are not currently permitted by many European leagues (including the English Premier League, the three divisions of the English Football League, and the Dutch Eredivisie).
 
You may be interested to learn that the SPFL Board recently approved plans for a Premiership-wide project to work with a leading pitch consultancy firm, which is regularly used by UEFA, to improve the standards of grass pitches in the Premiership. The SPFL will be engaging with Premiership clubs on this project ahead of the new season.
 
As will be apparent from the above, the SPFL is keen to elevate the standards of all pitches in the top tier of Scottish football – which can only be good for the image of the game in this country.
 
I trust the above is clear and helpful.”

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1 hour ago, Katboy said:

I have emailed my MSP regards this proposal, and have received the following back.

I refer to my email sent earlier today.  I have now had a response from the Chief Executive of the SPFL.  He says in his reply:-
 
“Many thanks for your email below, regarding the resolution recently requisitioned by a number of Premiership clubs. If passed, the effect of this resolution will be to phase out the use of artificial pitches in Scotland’s top division by summer 2026. Artificial pitches are not currently permitted by many European leagues (including the English Premier League, the three divisions of the English Football League, and the Dutch Eredivisie).
 
You may be interested to learn that the SPFL Board recently approved plans for a Premiership-wide project to work with a leading pitch consultancy firm, which is regularly used by UEFA, to improve the standards of grass pitches in the Premiership. The SPFL will be engaging with Premiership clubs on this project ahead of the new season.
 
As will be apparent from the above, the SPFL is keen to elevate the standards of all pitches in the top tier of Scottish football – which can only be good for the image of the game in this country.
 
I trust the above is clear and helpful.”

Not really saying anything we don't already know. All about the Premiership, nothing about compensation for clubs with artificial surfaces who manage to reach the Premiership. No mention of the many Clubs that are allowed into Europe with artificial pitches. Using the English Leagues as a reference where its night and day money wise compared to Scotland. Nothing about the MSP raising supporters concerns with the SPFL.  in fact it sounds like he/she is fully on board with the resolution. Typical politicians being evasive, saying a lot but really saying nothing.

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I emailed MP’s, MSP’s and the Powers that be in Scottish football and my MSP is the only one that has replied so far. Below is the text of the reply:

Good afternoon, 

Thank you for taking the time to write to me regarding this matter. I am supportive of the approach that Falkirk FC and other Clubs have taken forward with the SPFL in opposing the pitch changes.
 
I understand the financial challenges that changing the artificial pitch to a grass pitch would have on Clubs and the repercussions this would have on wider activities, for example the Falkirk Foundation who have invaluable programmes in the community, including working with vulnerable groups.
 
I have therefore written to the SPFL to highlight the impact of the cost of changing the pitch and also the wider impact this decision will have, particularly at Falkirk FC on the work of their Foundation and the knock-on effect this will have on the provision of programmes for the community.
 
I hope this information is helpful.
 
Kind regards,

 

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2 hours ago, Katboy said:

I have emailed my MSP regards this proposal, and have received the following back.

I refer to my email sent earlier today.  I have now had a response from the Chief Executive of the SPFL.  He says in his reply:-
 
“Many thanks for your email below, regarding the resolution recently requisitioned by a number of Premiership clubs. If passed, the effect of this resolution will be to phase out the use of artificial pitches in Scotland’s top division by summer 2026. Artificial pitches are not currently permitted by many European leagues (including the English Premier League, the three divisions of the English Football League, and the Dutch Eredivisie).
 
You may be interested to learn that the SPFL Board recently approved plans for a Premiership-wide project to work with a leading pitch consultancy firm, which is regularly used by UEFA, to improve the standards of grass pitches in the Premiership. The SPFL will be engaging with Premiership clubs on this project ahead of the new season.
 
As will be apparent from the above, the SPFL is keen to elevate the standards of all pitches in the top tier of Scottish football – which can only be good for the image of the game in this country.
 
I trust the above is clear and helpful.”

This is an awful reply from the Chief Exec, disregarding everything.

 

22 minutes ago, Harry Kinnear said:

I emailed MP’s, MSP’s and the Powers that be in Scottish football and my MSP is the only one that has replied so far. Below is the text of the reply:

Good afternoon, 

Thank you for taking the time to write to me regarding this matter. I am supportive of the approach that Falkirk FC and other Clubs have taken forward with the SPFL in opposing the pitch changes.
 
I understand the financial challenges that changing the artificial pitch to a grass pitch would have on Clubs and the repercussions this would have on wider activities, for example the Falkirk Foundation who have invaluable programmes in the community, including working with vulnerable groups.
 
I have therefore written to the SPFL to highlight the impact of the cost of changing the pitch and also the wider impact this decision will have, particularly at Falkirk FC on the work of their Foundation and the knock-on effect this will have on the provision of programmes for the community.
 
I hope this information is helpful.
 
Kind regards,

 

This is much better. Hopefully this gets through to them.

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2 hours ago, Katboy said:

I have emailed my MSP regards this proposal, and have received the following back.

I refer to my email sent earlier today.  I have now had a response from the Chief Executive of the SPFL.  He says in his reply:-
 
“Many thanks for your email below, regarding the resolution recently requisitioned by a number of Premiership clubs. If passed, the effect of this resolution will be to phase out the use of artificial pitches in Scotland’s top division by summer 2026. Artificial pitches are not currently permitted by many European leagues (including the English Premier League, the three divisions of the English Football League, and the Dutch Eredivisie).
 
You may be interested to learn that the SPFL Board recently approved plans for a Premiership-wide project to work with a leading pitch consultancy firm, which is regularly used by UEFA, to improve the standards of grass pitches in the Premiership. The SPFL will be engaging with Premiership clubs on this project ahead of the new season.
 
As will be apparent from the above, the SPFL is keen to elevate the standards of all pitches in the top tier of Scottish football – which can only be good for the image of the game in this country.
 
I trust the above is clear and helpful.”

That's a f**k you letter 

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4 hours ago, Katboy said:

I have emailed my MSP regards this proposal, and have received the following back.

I refer to my email sent earlier today.  I have now had a response from the Chief Executive of the SPFL.  He says in his reply:-
 
“Many thanks for your email below, regarding the resolution recently requisitioned by a number of Premiership clubs. If passed, the effect of this resolution will be to phase out the use of artificial pitches in Scotland’s top division by summer 2026. Artificial pitches are not currently permitted by many European leagues (including the English Premier League, the three divisions of the English Football League, and the Dutch Eredivisie).
 
You may be interested to learn that the SPFL Board recently approved plans for a Premiership-wide project to work with a leading pitch consultancy firm, which is regularly used by UEFA, to improve the standards of grass pitches in the Premiership. The SPFL will be engaging with Premiership clubs on this project ahead of the new season.
 
As will be apparent from the above, the SPFL is keen to elevate the standards of all pitches in the top tier of Scottish football – which can only be good for the image of the game in this country.
 
I trust the above is clear and helpful.”

So, to paraphrase, that response from the SPFL CEO can be summarised as ... "I have read your well researched and effectively presented arguments and I have totally ignored them all. The decision has to all intents and purposes already been made.  The fact that the exorbitant cost of high quality grass pitches will be a defacto bar to the entry of all diddy clubs to the top division is music to my ears and our objective will be achieved regardless. You pond life are immaterial to me, my executive and the elite clubs.  Get doon and stay doon."

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Looks like the F has been binned again with the resurfacing of the SPL - self preservation league.

It beggars belief how out of touch and blinkered the top flight is.

Not forgetting the ostriches that wear the blazers.

 

 

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1 hour ago, laughing gravie said:

It beggars belief how out of touch and blinkered the top flight is.

Not forgetting the ostriches that wear the blazers.

I don't think they're "out of touch" tbf ... it's just that the lower three tiers equate to the collective term "pond life" in their eyes.  We're just a necessary evil that they occasionally have to reluctantly tolerate in cup competitions (mainly so that Chick Young can get the chance to patronise us and our shit wee stadia on air).  They certainly don't want any of us in their wee cartel private league.  They know we can't afford to install/maintain high quality grass pitches, that's the whole point - so job done.

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