Montrose FC wishes to update supporters following the third postponement of a first-team fixture at Links Park in the last six weeks.

Having replaced the natural grass playing surface almost 20 years ago, fans will appreciate this situation is unprecedented, and has come as a genuine surprise, shock, and disappointment to everyone at the Club.

Back in the summer, knowing the artificial carpet was reaching the end of its lifespan, we made the decision to upgrade. In full consultation with the pitch manufacturer, we selected both a new playing surface and a preferred and recommended type of infill.

Despite having previously used both black rubber pellet infill, and green rubber shards, we were made aware of an impending ban on this type of material in the next few years, due to environmental concerns around microplastics.

As a result, the industry is moving towards more sustainable alternatives, so in good faith, and with a view to staying ahead of legislative changes, we opted for a new infill made from specially treated woodchip. This was a more expensive option than the traditional rubber.

Regrettably, this material has not performed as expected, resulting in the surface now retaining rainwater and taking a significant time to drain away.

This has made it very difficult to predict the playability of the pitch, resulting in not only the postponement of fixtures, but also the cancellation of community pitch bookings, all at short notice.

The consequences of this have been far reaching, with our reputation affected, added strain placed on staff, and financial losses incurred through reduced revenues.

Rest assured, we remain fully committed and determined to resolve the issue and we are in constant dialogue with the manufacturer and installation contractors to fully understand the problem and implement a solution as quickly as possible.

We are also keeping the relevant league bodies updated in relation to the impact of all this on our fixtures.

We sincerely appreciate the inconvenience this has caused – not only to our loyal fans but also to the wider community of pitch users – and we ask for your patience and support as we work to rectify the matter.