THE Welsh Rugby Union have had to rethink their idea of putting down an artificial pitch at Rodney Parade because of Newport County’s potential great escape.

Newport RFC shareholders meet on Tuesday to decide whether to give the green light to a proposed deal that would see the WRU take control of the Dragons and Rodney Parade.

The pitch at the historic ground has struggled to cope with three teams playing on it with the Exiles having three games postponed or abandoned while the Dragons’ Anglo-Welsh Cup clash with Newcastle was ended with 12 minutes left to play because of boggy conditions.

At the official announcement of the WRU’s proposed deal, Phillips said that their preferred solution was to lay a 3G pitch.

However, Football League regulations do not permit artificial surfaces and County will beat the drop from League Two if they beat Notts County or Hartlepool fail to win against Doncaster.

The WRU chief executive stressed he hopes the Exiles complete their great escape and said they are now exploring other options.

“The pitch is no good for us and no good for them,” said Phillips to BBC’s Scrum V Radio.

“The ideal [solution] for us would have been to put an artificial pitch down because we want the ground to be a hub for rugby for women, girls and kids and getting it played on all day, every day.

“That's probably not going to be possible now because Newport County need a grass pitch. We are in a dialogue with them about how over the summer we put it back to what a pro club should have.”