Three clubs currently playing in the National League are calling on 3G pitches to be allowed to be used in the English Football League.

Sutton United, Bromley and Maidstone United are the three teams seeking a change in the rules.

3G pitches are permitted only up to National League Level, with all three of the aforementioned clubs currently using them.

After seven matches Sutton United are two points clear at the top of the National League. If the U’s were to gain promotion to the English Football League this season they would be forced to replace their 3G pitch with a natural mud grass one.

Refusal to do so would result in a double relegation.

A joint statement from the three clubs read: “At the time of writing Sutton United and Bromley are early leaders of The National League. If they were both still in a promotion position come May 2018 this could well cause a serious conflict within professional football.

“Neither club will wish to destroy its successful business model by installing a natural mud-grass pitch at significant cost, only a year or two after installing a 3G pitch at significant cost and with the real possibility of this pitch replacement only being necessary for one year, in the event of relegation back to National League.”

3G pitches are warranted in other European leagues with Kilmarnock and Hamilton playing on them in Scotland.

All matches in the 2015 Women’s World Cup were held on a 3G surface.

The statement added: “We believe this progressive approach is the right way to bring English football in line with the rest of Europe.

“In so doing it will offer opportunities to more of our professional clubs up to EFL League 1 level to install 3G pitches and benefit from the development of self-sufficient and sustainable club businesses and also to become even more integral parts of their local communities.”