DURHAM City Football Club is giving serious thought to installing a plastic pitch at its Archibalds Stadium - and it could be in place for the start of next season.

City investigated the installation of plastic last season as an alternative scheme had the Soccarena project, the brainchild of chairman Stewart Dawson, fallen through.

Soccarena, built on land adjacent to the Archibalds Stadium, opened last year and Prime Minister Tony Blair performed the official ribbon cutting last week.

Now Mr Dawson is looking at the idea of installing an artificial surface for the Northern League club and he is prepared to pay £400,000 for the pitch that would accommodate other sports as well as football.

Mr Dawson said: " We are seriously looking at the concept. I've been over to Holland to have a look at plastic surfaces there.

"Since I last looked at them the technology has advanced even further; they're better than they were a year ago.

"They're being used more and more. The Norwegian League is now using them and only last week the Rangers vice-chairman said that it was only a matter of time before they're being used widely in Scotland.

"UEFA have now given permission for Champions League games to be played on them. Research has shown that over the last two years, there are fewer injuries on plastic surfaces than ordinary surfaces.

"The pitch we're thinking about has got UEFA and FIFA approval, as well as approval from rugby authorities.

"The only snag as far as we're concerned is that we might not be able to play FA Cup ties on it."

The football authorities are closely monitoring plastic pitches again.

Scottish club Dunfermline have been playing on one this season while Woodley Sports from the UniBond League have just been granted permission to use one next season.

The Northern League gave approval for a possible move to plastic last season and it doesn't appear their stance will change.

Chairman Mike Amos said: "We were on the point of approving Durham's plastic surface last season, and the likelihood is that we would approve it again, after discussions."

One of the possible conditions for use in the Northern League would be that opposing teams would be given plenty of time to acquaint themselves with the surface.

The current City pitch is regarded as one of the best playing surfaces in the league but City have made it clear they would like to be the area's pioneers of plastic surfaces.