Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper has slammed the state of the playing surface at Aldershot Town for the the final fixture of the National League Premier Division season.
The Glovers’ boss said he did not believe the pitch at The Recreation Ground had been cut and said he felt it would impact on the style of football played.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins ahead of kick-off, he said: “I was really looking forward to it until I came and saw the pitch. I would think when the referee sees that he has to have questions whether it is a health and safety risk.
“They have not even cut it, it is like they are waiting for the cows or sheep to come and eat it. You would not see that at the bottom level of Sunday morning football – but there we go!
“Apparently they have a lawnmower that broke and they have just not bothered, but that is their issue. I am sure it will frustrate the staff at Aldershot because they want to play good football. It will make sure the game is probably not a spectacle in terms of football. It will mean a lot of long balls forward and a game of chance.”
The manager has made two changes to the starting XI which began the 2-1 home defeat to Sutton United in their last game with winger Lewys Twamley handed his first start and captain Jake Wannell returning to the defence after injury.
Twamley signed from Southern League Premier Division South side Merthyr Town in January and has appeared off the bench.
On the 21-year-old, Cooper said: “He has come out of the Southern League Premier Division, he is physically behind the rest of the group and when you add that to his size, it has been difficult for him to catch up. We need to have a look at him today and see if he can step up. He has the ability to score a goal and that is where we are short.
“We are all looking to next season and looking at who can go with us because we want to compete if we can, depending on what happens above us (with the takeover of the club).”