GATESHEAD have forfeited home advantage and will play their FA Trophy Third Round tie with Barrow at Holker Street next week.
The game, which was scheduled to take place at the International Stadium, has twice been postponed due to the condition of the pitch caused by bad weather.
Gateshead tried to move the game to Durham City‘s 3G surface but were blocked from doing so as they were unable to give Barrow ten days notice that it would be played on an artificial pitch.
They also approached Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Sunderland in the hope of being able to play at one of their grounds but were unable to do so.
Speaking about their attempts to find an alternative venue and the subsequent decision to switch the game to Barrow’s Holker Street ground, Heed chairman Graham Wood said: “We have made every attempt to stage the tie in the North East but unfortunately we have not been able to find a suitable solution.
“All the non-league clubs we looked at have games of their own next midweek and with the FA ruling regarding synthetic pitches our options were exhausted.”
Should the rearranged fixture be drawn or postponed again for any reason, the replay/initial tie will take place on Saturday, January 26.
The winners of the tie will face Gainsborough Trinity away in the quarter finals.
