At their annual conference in Portugal, the Football League have agreed "in principle" to allow the use of artificial pitches in the Football League.

The lack of artificial pitches was a criticism in Greg Dyke's recent report to the FA as a way of improving the quality of young English footballers, and it would seem that move has become a step closer today after the Football League voted to agree to their use.

The move hasn't been fully implemented with the agreement being limited to Leagues One and Two, and not the Championship but those jolly nice Championship clubs agreed to their use lower down the Leagues.

By agreeing to this, the Football League will provide further analysis to the League clubs before formal consideration later this year.

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