The Hampden pitch was in poor condition for this week's games

Celtic and Rangers have urged Hampden bosses to deliver a playing surface worthy of showcasing the Old Firm Co-Operative Insurance Cup final.

The Hampden pitch was criticised after hosting this week's two semi-finals.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot said they hoped the 15 March final would be played on an improved pitch.

Hampden Park Ltd managing director David Kells said: "We want to make sure there is a good surface."

The national stadium will host the Old Firm final and the Scotland World Cup qualifier against Iceland on 1 April.

The pitch was criticised by Rangers and Falkirk after Tuesday's first semi-final, while Strachan and striker Scott McDonald were also scathing of the surface after Wednesday's win over Dundee United.

It's a cup final and we want to show Scottish football at its best and on its best surface Celtic manager Gordon Strachan

Strachan said he hoped supporters at the final would be able to enjoy the game played on a good surface.

"It's a cup final and we want to show Scottish football at its best and on its best surface," said Strachan.

"The guys who played on that surface should be really proud of themselves. The pictures show what it was all about last night.

"If you watch it, we have the first pass back to Lee Naylor and at one point the ball played along the surface ended up knee-high."

Rangers full-back Broadfoot said the cup final could be "a classic" if the pitch was repaired.

"I don't know what's causing the pitch to be in that state, but I don't think it's the best condition it can be," said Broadfoot.

"Hopefully we can get it sorted for the final and make it a good footballing game for everyone to see."

Asked what had caused the problem with the pitch, Kells told BBC Scotland: "Basically the bad weather and the number of games that have had to be played on it.

We have had four or five years when we have not had this problem and it is something we have shown we can recover from Hampden Park's David Kells

"The Queen's Park Scottish Cup replay last week against Peterhead was an unscheduled game in our programme and, unfortunately, that game was played in pouring rain and the pitch cut up quite badly.

"And, with the general weather conditions, it did deteriorate more than we would have expected - although, looking back at last year, the pitch was very similar and recovered very well for the final.

"It is not as good as we would have liked, but we've got a period now when we have two more Queen's Park matches to play before the final and what we will be doing is a series of works on the pitch to make sure it recovers as it did last year."

A decision will be taken in early March about whether the surface needed to be relayed at a cost of between �100,000 and �120,000.

"I think we should start to see improvements and it should not deteriorate any more.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your thoughts on the Hampden pitch

"We have had four or five years when we have not had this problem and it is something we have shown in the past we can recover from."

Kells argued that there were a number of pitches around the country in a similar condition.

But McDonald, who scored the winning penalty after a shoot-out against United, thought it was not suitable for a showpiece event.

"It's terrible," he said after setting up an Old Firm final against Rangers.

"Both teams like to pass the ball, but you can't play on that. They're going to have to do something about it.

"You can't have an Old Firm final on a pitch like that. It would just make it a bad viewing game."

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