Leeds United invest in new pitch

Heavy and cutting up in the bad weather, the pitch was widely criticised after Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion. As a team which relies heavily on keeping possession, the Whites need a good surface to pass the ball on and it has become increasingly obvious recently they do not have one.

Chief executive Angus Kinnear had pre-empted the criticism in his programme notes, saying the full reconstruction of the pitch which had been due to take place last summer but was put back because of the quick turnaround between seasons would go ahead at the end of the season. He criticised “decades of under-investment” in a 25-year-old pitch.

In the meantime, a significant investment understood to be in the region of £300,000 will provide a short-term solution.

The new pitch is due to be in place for the next home game, which is not until February 3, when Everton are due in West Yorkshire.

The move is said to have been decided upon “following consultation with the board and the playing staff.”

Work on a new state-of-the-art drainage system is scheduled for May.

“After the recent heavy rainfall and snow, it became evident that the current system was unable to cope and, as a result, was struggling to retain sufficient stability in the top surface,” said Leeds’ head of facilities Mark Broadley.

“We reviewed all options available and agreed the best possible solution was to remove the top surface and install the hybrid turf system HT Pro as seen at Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City.”

The current pitch is due to be removed this weekend, when Leeds do not have a game having been knocked out of the FA Cup.