MD Ian Milne says the poor current state of the Portman Road pitch is down to the number of games played on it during January and adverse weather conditions, however, he says the club are looking at ways of improving it going forward.

In addition to first-team fixtures, the Portman Road surface staged two FA Youth Cup ties and a U23s Premier League Cup match
during January with the latter played in heavy rain.

“We’re talking with [groundsman] Ben [Connell],” Milne told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch. “He does a great job on there. I think I mentioned before, there were about eight games in January when we normally have three, so that upset the balance.

“Plus, it’s another dull day today and like us, the grass needs the sun. But we are looking at how we’re going to improve it going forward.

“We had an agronomist’s report on it and they said there’s nothing wrong with the pitch it’s just those matches and the weather.”

Former groundsman Alan Ferguson has previously said that ideally the pitch needs expensive work deep below the surface, something which has been long been pencilled in to be done once Town return to the Premier League.

“Of course we’re going to look at the other options,” Milne continued. “I think there are only two natural soil pitches in the Championship and it does cost a lot of money to put a new pitch in and sometimes you have to have a replica pitch at the training ground, so it’s not just one pitch it’s two pitches.

“And with the underground heating, it would cost about a million or a million and a half. It’s a big question. And it doesn’t stop then, it’s still got to have a major upkeep throughout the year.”

Groundsman Connell's Turf Journal, a regular blog on the pitches at Portman Road and Playford Road here.

Photo: Action Images

mikepc added 19:06 - Apr 3 Forgive me if I am wrong , isn't the pitch the main thing required for a professional football club ? It should be part of the budget year on year to maintain and improve . Money issues always seem to be the stumbling block , yet many other clubs manage to attain the same things we seem to say are luxuries. Being cheap is the big problem with the pitch and the overall appearance of the stadium . THE PLACE LOOKS RUN DOWN , everything including the advertisement boards around the pitch are dated and filthy . Appearance is everything , pride seems to have vanished . Mr. Evans knew when he bought into the club that heavy investment was part and parcel of todays football. He has the final say as to money spent and I believe he says NO an awful lot.

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JimmyP45 added 12:44 - Apr 4 "the pitch needs expensive work deep below the surface, something which has been long been pencilled in to be done once Town return to the Premier League" Will never get carried out then.
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brendanh added 13:12 - Apr 4 "agronomist said there's nothing wrong with the pitch" - I think you need a second opinion. Has deteriorated since the new stands were built. Needs more light. Why aren't we investing in sun lights? http://sglconcept.com/en/home.html Only proper blokes will play well on the pitch as it is.
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brendenward35 added 13:45 - Apr 4 I remember a few years ago ITFC had the same issue which was caused by the ground hosting concerts in the summer and not enough time to get the pitch sorted. So maybe they have run into the same issue as before?
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:15 - Apr 4 Seasider,give Evans a break ! I'm sure if he new where the ground was he would have look at it .
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:20 - Apr 4 The way things are going it will soon be jumpers for goal posts , ......NOOOOOOO Marcus that was a joke !
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