FOREST GREEN ROVERS boss Ady Pennock has branded the club as “unprofessional” and says the playing surface at the New Lawn is a “disgrace”.
Rovers’ title challenge was ended on Saturday as they lost 2-1 at home to Woking while their Gloucestershire rivals Cheltenham beat FC Halifax to secure promotion.
It means Pennock’s side will have to successfully navigate the play-offs if they are to play in the Football League for the first time in their history.
Forest Green are now winless in their past four home league games and have netted just once during that time.
The club have been without a groundsman since Matt Rainey’s departure last month with Pennock himself having to help maintain the pitch.
With Saturday’s game against Halifax and a play-off semi-final still to come at the New Lawn, the boss couldn’t help but express his frustration.
“The pitch is a disgrace here, whatever happens, I don’t care what anyone says,” he said. “We haven’t had a groundsman for the past month or five weeks and it does affect us.
“It’s very unprofessional but it’s a decision that has been made and we’ve got to get on with it and play on it.
“What I’m going to have to do next week is get on there and actually roll it better. We haven’t really got a heavy roller to do it because they worry about compacting all the grass and the dirt together.
“It had a good cut when I went out on it a couple of weeks ago, but it’s very bumpy. It looks fine from a distance but when you’re on it, it’s awful.”
