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SPFL club ‘push back plans to switch from artificial pitch to grass’

KILMARNOCK have delayed their switch from an artificial surface to a grass pitch for another year.

The Ayrshire club had planned to revert to a grass surface at Rugby Park for the start of next season but their plans have now changed.

SPFL club ‘push back plans to switch from artificial pitch to grass’

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The Rugby Park pitch will stay another yearCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun

Killie received planning permission for their new state-of-the-art Bowie Park Training Centre in June and were hoping to coincide their move to the new complex with the major change at their home stadium.

But the completion date of the project has been pushed back, forcing the club to retain their plastic turf.

That’s according to the Daily Mail – who claim Derek McInnes‘ side will instead now switch to an artificial playing surface for the 2026/27 campaign.

Rugby Park is the only stadium in the top flight with a plastic pitch following Livingston relegation to the Championship.

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Synthetic surfaces have become increasingly unpopular in recent years, leading to Premiership clubs voting against the use of the pitches in the top division from the 2026/27 season onwards.

Clubs were given a two-year’s grace to meet the criteria and the Ayrshire club decided to make the change a year in advance.

But now their new surface will be laid just in time for when the ban is implemented.

The Ayrshire outfit decided to make the drastic change to their stadium a year in advance but now they will meet the criteria in time for the ban being implemented.

Celtic will face McInnes’ men on the artificial surface on Sunday and Brendan Rodgers is one of the many mangers who have been critical over their use.

Speaking last December ahead of a trip to Rugby Park, the Celtic boss admitted his relief over it being one of his last times playing on a plastic pitch in the Premiership.

Derek McInnes opens up on Rangers years, Kilmarnock ambitions and Scotland dream in part 2 of exclusive interview

He said: “The sooner that is the possibility up here then the better it would be for everyone,” Celtic manager Rodgers said.

“It’s a constant conversation. It’s clear that every coach would want to play, I’m pretty sure, on a grass pitch.

“I understand the economics of it all and what it would mean for some clubs.

“But there should be a certain level or a certain standard of which every team, if you are playing in the top flight, should have a grass pitch.”

His view has been echoed by many of his Premiership rivals, including St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson.

Speaking at the time, he said: “I hate them with a passion. I understand why clubs use them and understand the financial implications that you’re able to use the pitch all year round.

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“I think the lower clubs, outside the Premiership, I think yeah 100%. It’s the same in Northern Ireland. There’s a lot of investment in kidsfootball and with the weather we suffer from in Scotland and Northern Ireland it makes total sense at the lower levels.

“For a spectacle and across the world, we should, in terms of the football we are trying to play and to raise the standards of Scottish football, I don’t think they should be in our top league.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

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