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The city doesn’t have much of a guide for the design of football turf, except for player experience. Football Canada says there are no standards for turf quality in its rule book.

It isn’t the contractor’s fault that the turf hasn’t worked out.

“This is exactly what we paid for,” Chenier said.

Scott Boxall, president of the Myers Riders football club, said players are anxious use their home field again and he’s anticipating the turf replacement will happen. Teams have been playing home games outside their own territory.

“We do appreciate (the city) understanding that there was a mistake made and they’re rectifying it,” Boxall said. “We know it’s not just for us but we are very thankful they’re going to be changing the turf back to something that is more multipurpose.”

Sandeep Chopra, director of player development for the Nepean Nighthawks field hockey club, said replacing the turf would be a good idea for all sports. The field hockey club was opposed to the existing turf because it’s old technology that isn’t suitable for multiple sports, Chopra said.

Chopra said people unfairly criticized the field hockey club for the city’s turf selection.

“We continue to take it on the chin from the football groups and everyone else in the city,” Chopra said, noting that the club wants what’s best for all users of Minto Field.

“At this point we want this thing to settle down,” Chopra said. “We want football to be back there because we’re all part of the same community.”

If the city decides to change the turf, the work would likely happen in July or August before the start of the football season.

Meanwhile, the city’s pursuit of the field at the old Confederation High School continues. The city is negotiating with the National Capital Commission with hopes of getting a five-year lease to use the field as a practice field, with a possibility of scoring a long-term lease. The field, which has been eyed as a backup solution for football because of the Minto Field problems, is next to the Nepean Sportsplex.

jwilling@postmedia.com

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