Waitakere United football coach Paul Marshall says it's disappointing this weekend's Oceania Champions League final will be played on a sub-standard surface.
Two New Zealand teams will contest this Sunday's decider for the first time in the competition's history, with New Zealand champs Waitakere pitted against defending Oceania winners Auckland City.
Despite both clubs being Auckland-based, the final will be played at the neutral venue of Mount Smart Stadium number two and Paul Marshall says the pitch is way below par.
"I went and had a look and examined the ground the other day and unfortunately - it's the Mount Smart number two - it's the ground the Warriors [rugby league team] train on, very regularly, and to be honest it's not that conducive for a great brand of football. It's a shame really because I think both teams have got players that like to play the game the way the game should be played, and that is on the grass, and hopefully it's not going to ruin the game too much."
The O-League winner will represent Oceania at the Club World Cup tournament in Morocco in December.
