Supporters of Sale Sharks and Stockport County, who are both in the frame for play-off honours this season, blame each other for the muddy conditions and now Stockport boss Jim Gannon says the poor state of the pitch is to blame for them not always producing entertaining football.
Gannon also claimed Sharks' training sessions, as well as their matches, are hurting County's chances.
The problem is particularly acute when Sharks play at home on a Friday night before County's game on a Saturday, leaving the groundsman little chance to carry out a full-blown repair job.
That was the case last weekend when Gannon said: "I think as a club we've only used the pitch 20 or 21 times while I believe Sale Sharks have used it 60-plus times.
"If Sale Sharks are allowed to train on the pitch during critical stages of the year and allowed so many double-headers to appear during the season, ultimately they're responsible for the condition of the pitch.
"I'm disappointed for the players and the fans because we try to play but the pitch is killing us. More worryingly, we're seeing players getting injured. On Saturday. Darlington's Julian Joachim went over on his ankle.
Honours
"It's because the surface is so uneven and the damage has been done because of all the training Sale Sharks have done on the pitch. I want the players to play in the right manner and they want to play in the right manner."
But Sale chief executive James Jennings, said that Sharks and County officials are in regular contact and liaise in the summer to ensure fixtures do not clash.
Mr Jennings blamed the weather and also the fact that both clubs are still in with a shout for honours: "I don't think there is needle between the clubs and I can give assurances that people work hard on both sides to overcome certain difficulties and challenges," he said.
"It is inevitable at this stage of the season that both sides are anxious about the quality of the pitch as their seasons are very much in the balance."
Mr Jennings said there will be high level talks with the County officials in the summer to thrash out a long-term solution.
But he said that the cost of relaying the surface and putting in new undersoil heating was a prohibitive £700,000.
Meanwhile, Mr Jennings dismissed ongoing rumours that the Sharks may quit Edgeley Park, even though football supporters want to buy out the rugby club as landlords with a £4.5m share issue.
Sale have previously had talks about moving to Old Trafford cricket ground to share facilities with the cricket club and have had fruitless talks with Salford City Reds about sharing their new Barton stadium..
But Mr Jennings said: "The most likely option is staying at Stockport, because we own the site. It would need a third party to come in and ground share." Tweet
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No bad feeling between the clubs? Ha ha. Obviously they haven't been listening to the Cheadle End on match days. The sooner they go the better and it doesn't take a genius to work out who is wrecking that pitch. 20 stone rugby players dancing and diving about on it or our lads?
It's a shame the MEN hasn't done more research on this.
99% of the fans of both County and Sharks have come to terms with the sorry state of the pitch. We all understand that the weather this winter has played a significant part in the demise of the playing surface. There have been a number of polite and constructive discussions between County and Sharks fans on this very subject.
You also fail to acknowledge the hard work done by the ground staff in making the best of a bad lot.
It's true that a "Captain's run" is held at the ground and that the Sale kickers practice but to suggest that Shark "train" is at best disingenuous.
It is also clear that, whilst damage is done to the surface during scrumaging, none of this occurs in the football goal mouth areas - areas which show the highest rate of wear and tear, currently.
It’s a shame you choose, yet again, to try to stoke the fires of resentment between the cohabitees at Edgeley Park.
Perhaps a more balanced view could be obtained by asking some fans.....
the tide of resentment is growing towards sale sharks, you are wrecking our pitch, you dont belong here, this is Edgeley Park...in STOCKPORT....home of STOCKPORT COUNTY....you should go back to sale where you belong..in sale
it would be interesting if the men looked into the ownership of edgeley park because the club have never sold the ground! the remaining living shareholders were told at an agm almost three years ago that the ground had been transferred to wilmslow windows ltd,we later found out that the transfer was to bgk ltd own by brian kennedy.that is how,as mr jennings puts it,sale own the site!