MICHAEL Flynn would wholeheartedly welcome an improved playing surface at Rodney Parade, but the Newport County AFC boss wants to know “sooner rather than later” if one is to be installed.

The state of the pitch, which hosts County, the Dragons and Newport RFC, has been up for discussion again following the impact of the recent bad weather.

The Dragons play a Guinness PRO14 game against Benetton on the troubled surface tonight, less than 24 hours before the Exiles entertain Morecambe in League Two.

Speaking on Tuesday, Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan revealed that the region’s board are set to discuss the possibility of upgrading the pitch.

The current hybrid surface was laid in the summer of 2017, when the WRU took over the Dragons, at a cost of £750,000 – the pitch used had a lifespan of two to three years.

When asked this morning if he would welcome a new surface, Flynn said: “I’d welcome it 100%, and I’d like to know sooner rather than later because it affects my recruitment in the summer.”

He added: “That’s out of my remit. The board have been on the front foot. They do a lot of work behind the scenes and I’m sure they’re having those discussions, and I’ll find out as soon as I’m told.”

Flynn continued: “I haven’t looked at it (since the Dragons game last Saturday), I’ve stayed away from it.

“I’ll probably pop down after training today to run my eyes over it. We know what to expect and what it’s going to be like.

“If you don’t then you must have been living on the moon.

“I didn’t watch it (the Dragons match), but I had a load of photos sent to me from a few of my friends who were watching it.

“It is what it is, it’s no surprise. It doesn’t change anything, I know it’s bad. There are no excuses from me or the players.”

It is understood a Desso pitch like that at Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium is the preferred choice of the Dragons.

County have a lease to use the ground – and have primacy of fixtures there if they remain in the Football League – until 2023.