Vote split so issue
At an EGM at Derby County, proposals for clubs to be permitted to use artificial playing surfaces for matches in Sky Bet League 1 and Sky Bet League 2 from the beginning of the 2015-16 season have not been approved following an unprecedented tied vote by Football League clubs.
Thirty-four clubs voted in favour of the proposals with thirty-four against and four abstentions.
The Football League's Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: "This vote is reflective of the fact that this issue divides opinion amongst clubs as much as it does across the football public.
"While the outcome is different to previous indicative votes, it demonstrates that there is still a desire amongst clubs to find out more about artificial playing surfaces before taking such a significant step."
Crawley Town can confirm that it voted for the proposal.
Chief Executive Michael Dunford said: “We voted for artificial surfaces in Leagues 1 and 2. We felt it important that clubs had the opportunity to extend community use of their pitch and facilities.
“The technology is such that artificial surfaces now offer a creditable alternative to grass pitches and I expect they will have improved even more in the future when this subject will no doubt be debated once again by clubs.”
