MARGATE are awaiting a decision from the Nationwide Conference on whether they will sanction the use of "third generation pitches".

The club have made a formal application to lay the country's first space age plastic pitch at the rebuilt Hartsdown Park at a cost of around £350,000

FIFA and UEFA have already backed the idea, as have the Football Association,subject to two provisos. FA Cup ties will not be allowed to be staged on them, and clubs have to see consent from their respectuive leagues.The Conference board of directors are due to meet next week when a decision is expected.

Stadium adviser Keith Piper said: "The advantages of these pitches is that they can be used 52 weeks of the year, and will generate much needed revenue."

The pitch idea forms the centrepeice of the club's moves to take football back to the town after an absence of three years. Work is expected to begin by the end of the month, with most of the famous slope set to disappear.

The new Nationwide South season is due to start on August 6