Newport Rodney Parade pitch

The English Football League (EFL) is helping Newport County to sort drainage issues with the Rodney Parade pitch.

The EFL sent a specialist company to the ground to inspect the surface last week and Newport are awaiting details of the report.

County's League Two encounter with Morecambe on Saturday was abandoned at half-time because of waterlogging.

Newport are awaiting a report from the company as they look to ensure two lucrative cup games can go ahead.

Newport host Plymouth in an FA Cup replay on Wednesday, 21 December, with the winners visiting Liverpool in the third round on Sunday, 8 January.

The game between the Exiles and Argyle is to be televised, with both clubs receiving £37,000 as a broadcast fee.

The winners of the second-round replay then receive £144,000 in television money for the visit to Anfield, plus a portion of the gate receipt funds.

However, if the second-round replay is washed out, it is unlikely the replay will be staged in time to allow the third-round clash to take place on the correct date, meaning the clubs would lose the TV revenue.

With Newport and the EFL keen to avoid such issues, it is understood specialists commissioned by the EFL were at the ground last week.

County are keen to find answers for they have now had two games - against Morecambe and Barnet - abandoned at half-time this season. The League two encounter with Stevenage was also postponed on 1 October.

Three teams use Rodney Parade - County and two rugby sides, Newport Gwent Dragons and Newport RFC.

The Exiles are tenants at the ground, which is owned by Rodney Parade Limited.

Newport County signed a 10-year lease to use Rodney Parade in 2013.

The Exiles have had problems with the pitch since 2013. Last season their then-manager John Sheridan criticised the club when an FA Cup third round clash with Blackburn fell foul to the weather.

Barmy decision to play next week. Mental

According to BBC website no rain at all forecast before replay in Newport

Heavy rain moving up the Bristol Channel now on it's way to Newport

We could switch it to Bristol


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With xmas coming as well the locals with be digging up there potatoes they have been growing on it a couple days before the game as well..hahaha!!

they will have two rugby games on that pitch before next wednesday aswell

I read it is only one which is to be played this Friday. could have read it wrong.


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The winners would then have to travel to Liverpool on a midweek evening, with many supporters unable to be at Anfield because of work commitments.

And that could also mean the third round tie at Anfield not being televised by BT Sport and the subsequent loss of the £144,000 broadcast fee.

The importance of that sort of 'unbudgeted' money to League Two clubs such as Argyle and Newport cannot be over-stated.

So it is in everyone's interests that the game goes ahead at Rodney Parade next Wednesday as scheduled.

There is one more match to be played on the pitch before then – and it is a rugby union fixture.

Gwent Dragons, who share Rodney Parade along with Newport County and Newport RFC, will host Worcester Warriors in a European Challenge Cup clash on Friday.

That leaves four days for the hard-working ground staff to get the playing surface ready for the FA Cup tie.

If the EFL are helping Newport with the pitch then can't we get help with the dodgy drains and leaks?

Are you implying that our pitch requires more in the way of 'expenditure'........ it's not as if Brent couldn't find the money, how much did it cost to buy the ground recently?