By Andrew Gidley

Maidstone United are weeks away from deciding whether to invest in a 3G artificial surface at the club’s proposed new stadium at James Whatman Way.

Chief executive Bill Williams, pictured, confirmed that the club have been looking at several case studies carried out by FIFA on plastic pitches in use at all levels.

These include Young Boys of Berne – Spurs’ opponents in the Champions League earlier this season – Scottish Premier League St Johnstone and Woodley Sports, who play in Evo-Stick Division 1 North.

Williams said: "The reason why we are considering it is because we, and other non-league clubs, are in financial trouble because we don’t have enough revenue streams coming in week in, week out.

"We want to be a community club and get everyone involved but we have only one piece of grass available to us.

"We have a major decision to make but are still actively looking at the plusses and minuses. They cost between £350,000 and £500,000 to install, depending on the quality, but can generate anything between £100,000 and £140,000 in annual profit.

"Clubs at our level can’t survive playing on grass. The perfect scenario would be to have a grass pitch with an artificial surface next door, but we haven’t got enough room."