QUEEN of the South hope to be playing on an artificial 3G pitch next season after Dumfries & Galloway Council approved funding for the £600,000 project. The council is putting up £500,000 for the Palmerston pitch and a similar pitch at Blairmount Park, Newton Stewart, home of the South of Scotland side. The rest of the money will be provided by SportScotland. Work is expected to start during the summer and the pitch will be ready for season 2013/14.
Dumfries & Galloway Council have also approved funding of £250,000 towards the building of a new 3G pitch for South of Scotland side St Cuthbert Wanderers. This will be at their St Mary's Park ground in Kirkcudbright which has been badly hit by flooding and other problems. The news was welcomed by Saints manager Jim McCrossan who said: "This will be a godsend and great thing for South of Scotland football."