NEWPORT County AFC are set to start their 2017/18 League Two campaign on the road because of work to lay a hybrid pitch at Rodney Parade.

The Welsh Rugby Union are on schedule for their targeted July 1 completion date of their deal to take over Newport Gwent Dragons and purchase of the historic ground.

The governing body are committed to improving the much-maligned surface at Rodney Parade, which has struggled to cope with housing Newport RFC, the Dragons and County.

The Exiles had three games postponed or abandoned last season, the Dragons' Anglo-Welsh Cup clash with Newcastle was ended with 12 minutes left to play because of boggy conditions and opposition football bosses often criticised the surface.

The WRU had initially hoped to put down a 3G pitch but shelved those plans when the Exiles secured their remarkable escape from relegation as Football League regulations do not allow artificial surfaces.

They are now committed to a hybrid pitch – natural grass reinforced with synthetic fibres – but work is yet to start on either the new surface or on an improved drainage system.

That means that a request will be made to the Football League asking for County to start their campaign with some away games in August. Last season Liverpool switched a home game with Burnley while work was completed on a redeveloped stand at Anfield.

While the first round of the EFL Cup, scheduled for August 8 or 9, could be problematic and necessitate a switch if drawn at home, the Exiles are set to ask for some slack with their fixture list in order to provide a better surface.

"The pitch is a big priority and we are talking to Newport County and Newport Council about that," said WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips.

"We've got a lot to arrange in terms of fixtures, because football starts early, and it's about trying to find a window where we can put the pitch in.

"We will get it done, there is no question about that. We can't go into the start of the season as we are and the window to do it really is July.

"What we've got to do, particularly around fixtures between the football, Guinness PRO12 and Principality Premiership, is make sure that when we put the spade in the ground we can get it finished before it's needed to be played on.

"It could be that we need to have a couple of the first games away rather than home if we need that window.

"Nobody wants that in that competitions need a home and away rhythm but we might need a bit of slack in August to get that done.

"It's going to be a hybrid, grass and artificial, that should be comfortable with three teams playing on it."

Rugby would not be a problem as the season does not start until September and no friendlies have been arranged to be played in Newport.

Phillips previously said that the Union will spend "quite a chunk of money" on the hybrid pitch and they are also talking to Newport City Council about funding for a revamped Rodney Parade.

"We built up a relationship with the council through talks on the deal and we know that they've got ambitions for the stadium and the regeneration of Newport generally," said Phillips.

"It's a city centre venue and we want to make sure that anything that we do is good for sport and good for Newport as well."