The Scottish Premier League have expressed an "open" mind about the return of artificial pitches to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

As well as causing a record number of postponements, one of the harshest winters in living memory has left many SPL pitches in a poor state, forcing clubs to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on remedial work this summer.

There has been a general opposition to artificial surfaces in Scotland since Dunfermline installed one seven years ago and were forced to tear it up after two seasons following a number of problems.

But Tuesday night's Champions League quarter-final second leg between CSKA Moscow and Inter Milan was played on the latest 'fourth generation' pitch, and it is this the SPL may consider should it find favour with their member clubs.

SPL secretary Ian Blair told BBC Scotland: "We are open to it as a possibility, but we would require a demonstration that it was going to be effective.

"We as a league are not promoting artificial surfaces, but there is a facility within our rules for a club to come forward and - subject to various criteria being met - it's certainly possible that it would be approved."

Blair admits the Dunfermline experiment meant many in Scotland are against artificial surfaces on principle.

"I think we are still chastened of the experience of the Premier League with an artificial pitch," he said.

"However, if it can be proven that the new surfaces are much better then that would help with the consideration."

i dont understand whats the thing about artifical pitches? the only thing that matters is games being played on time and on schedule. also players' association should be consulted first. because its the players who would be on that pitch. if they are comfortable then i dont see any reason to reject artificial pitches.

The problem is the bounce, speed and general shitness compred to real grass..

It'd be like playing indoor 5 a side every match....

And no, the only thing that matters is a decent match for the paying supporters to watch, fuck the time and schedule, thats for the anoraks and accountants to worry about...

To be fair, I've played on one of these pitches down at the Rovers training ground at Brockhall, they have a giant indoor one.

Its very good, you actually don't notice the difference - the grass 'blades' even have the same texture and feel as real grass.

Still, it aint the same though so ...