STRI resigns position as Wembley pitch consultants

STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) announced yesterday that they have tendered their resignation as consultants to Wembley, with the company due to depart their current position at the end of June 2010.

Gordon McKillop, Chief Executive at STRI said: "STRI has worked with Wembley for thirteen months providing research and analysis of the playing performance of the pitch, advising on strategy and working on long-term objectives to enhance the quality of the playing performance. We have had many constructive and positive discussions with Wembley over the last few weeks on what would be the best way forward to make significant improvements to the pitch. In relation to this STRI presented an alternative strategy for 2010 to change the construction of the pitch, which Wembley agreed was the best way forward and is now proceeding with this."

Gordon McKillop added: "We are pleased that Wembley has adopted our proposed strategy which should see improvements to the pitch during 2010. This new structure of pitch does not require the previous level of research and consultancy from the STRI team and, therefore, we feel it is the right time to resign. We wish the Wembley team every success with the new pitch and would welcome working with them again in the future."