Maidstone United co-owner Oliver Ash remains convinced 3G pitches will be allowed in the Conference next season – despite a no vote from clubs.

Proposals were rejected 21-11 at a meeting in Telford on Wednesday but Mr Ash dismissed the vote as irrelevant and has called on the Conference board to allow 3G anyway.

He was critical of the voting system that saw Skrill Premier clubs granted a vote each while the North and South divisions had only four votes each.

Mr Ash said: “We think the vote is irrelevant. The board have the discretion to amend a decision one way or the other to allow 3G in some form. It’s down to them to show leadership and vision and to recognise the weakness of the voting system.

“The vote was completely undemocratic and there were no facts or figures presented to allow clubs to make an informed decision. They can’t claim that, because the EGM voted one way, it means there isn’t a strong 3G lobby within the Conference as that isn’t true.

“There’s a significant number of clubs in North and South who are in favour. We continue to dialogue with the board and hope for some news in the next few weeks.

“We are as positive as we were before the vote that 3G will be allowed in some form in the Conference. If we are in a position to go up, then we will. That’s our position and it hasn’t changed because we know our argument is so strong.

“We want a decision made on facts and figures, not ill-informed emotional hearsay and prejudice.”