OXFORD City general manager Justin Merritt has welcomed the club’s decision to try and install an artificial pitch at Marsh Lane.

City are chasing a play-off place in Vanarama Conference North, but their passing style of football has been hindered at times by the indifferent surface.

“It’s really positive news because it gives us a consistently high quality playing surface every week, which is something we haven’t had this year,” he said.

“The pitch sees a lot of football and in recent years it’s become more difficult to play so many matches without it compromising the surface.”

City’s boss feels it could help the club push on to the next level, despite artificial pitches still being banned in the Football League.

“We’re obviously trying to progress as far as we can as a club, but I’m confident that ruling will change in time,” Merritt said.

“We don’t have a massive fanbase like some of the sides in our division, so to sustain ourselves at this level we have to find more creative ways to generate revenue and to engage the community.

“I think the Football League will overturn that decision soon and hopefully in three to five years’ time we’ll be in a position to take advantage.”