Newport County AFC can confirm that two of our upcoming home Sky Bet League Two fixtures against Bradford City and Leyton Orient will take place at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Despite the continued efforts of Rodney Parade’s groundstaff, the maintenance of the pitch has become more difficult due to the weather conditions and fixture pile-ups in an unprecedented season for Newport County AFC and Dragons Rugby. The hybrid Rodney Parade surface was also scheduled to be re-laid last summer but the work was put on hold owing to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The club has been in dialogue with representatives from the EFL in recent weeks with a view of finding an alternative venue for both games, which will give the Rodney Parade pitch a chance to recover ahead of County’s remaining fixtures of the campaign.
A proposal to move the fixtures against Bradford and Orient, scheduled for Tuesday 9th March and Saturday 20th March respectively, was put forward and given the green-light by an EFL Board on Thursday.
The switch of venue will give the Rodney Parade surface some welcome breathing space over the coming weeks, with County’s next home game in Newport set to take place against Scunthorpe United on Saturday 27th March.
Newport County AFC Chairman, Gavin Foxall, said: “We are very grateful to colleagues at the EFL for their support and understanding in these unprecedented times.
“My thanks and appreciation to Ken Choo and all the staff at Cardiff City for accommodating. It is a good example of how the football community comes together in challenging circumstances.”
Mark Jones, Managing Director at Dragons Rugby, said: "We have been in dialogue with Newport County AFC and understand the decision they have taken to take two games to Cardiff.
"With three back-to-back home weekends for Dragons in March, this decision will allow us to protect the pitch and aid its recovery before Newport County AFC return to Rodney Parade at the end of the month."