MICHAEL Appleton says he would be in favour of installing an artificial pitch at the Kassam Stadium, if Football League rules changed.

Oxford United, who play their final home game against Cambridge United tomorrow, have been hindered by a poor surface, which they share with rugby team London Welsh.

Oxford City are planning to install a 3G pitch this summer after Conference clubs approved them.

It is not yet an option open to the Football League, whose chairmen voted in February against their introduction.

The U’s regularly train on the artificial surface next to City’s first-team pitch at Marsh Lane and Appleton thinks it is a shame they do not have the option at the Kassam.

He said: “The surface at Oxford City beside the stadium is fantastic and it’s something we use whenever we get the opportunity.

“The younger players are quite happy on it, I’m not sure about the older ones.

“I just see it was an opportunity for some of the lower league clubs to make money from.

“You’ll never get games called off, you’ll be able to train on it every day, so from a cost-effective point of view I’m a little bit surprised it didn’t get voted in.

“Possibly in five or ten years, who knows.”