Caley boss tips plastic pitches for more clubs
INVERNESS Caley Thistle boss John Hughes has insisted Rugby Park’s artificial surface is the future of Scottish football — although he believes it heavily favours today’s opponents Kilmarnock. The Caley Thistle manager understands why such pitches are used and believes most clubs could soon follow suit. ‘I feel the artificial pitch is a massive advantage to the home team,’ said Hughes. ‘I think that is self-explanatory. They’re training on it every day. ‘Is it the way forward? Possibly. I wouldn’t mind if it was here. ‘I can understand why you are putting it in, for the community and finance. ‘As long as it has some sort of water on it from rain, sprinklers or water guns, then it is a whole different surface. ‘You ask any player. It is a whole different surface when there is not a skid on it. ‘I trained on the artificial surface at Livingston and in the summer I saw guys go over on their ankles. You could smell the rubber. ‘But, if there is a skid on it, then by all means everyone in Scotland should be looking to do that. ‘In the next few years you will see a lot more clubs playing on it, but it has to come with water. ‘Hopefully, it will be a rainy day on Saturday. It will be conducive to our style of play. We aim to get on the ball, pass it and make sure we take the game to Kilmarnock.’ After three defeats at the end of 2014, Caley Thistle have won their last two games against Highland rivals Ross County and St Mirren. Inverness are sitting in fifth place, five points behind leaders Aberdeen, and Hughes is looking forward to the second half of the campaign. ‘We are back to winning ways and positives,’ Hughes added. ‘It is all to play for. ‘There are different dynamics in the second half. ‘You are coming up against teams fighting for their lives, teams who want to get into the top six — with players who are out of contract. ‘In the next month, we could be facing teams with new players, so you have to make sure that you prepare properly. ‘We have set our standard. If we have the same second half as we did the first, then we will be there or thereabouts.’