PERFECT STORM LEAVES PITCHES IN POOR STATE

TOP-FLIGHT football clubs are having to undertake a series of urgent measures to address concerns over the quality of their pitches.

Sportsmail has been told that a lack of time to renovate surfaces in the summer due to the shortened gap between the seasons, along with brutal weather conditions, fixture pile-ups and reduced staff levels have created what one official described as ‘a perfect storm’.

It is understood that Leeds United, one of the clubs whose pitch has come in for criticism, have been seeking re- turfing options. They are expected to have carried out significant improvements before Everton visit Elland Road on February 3.

Officials have disclosed that discussions are now regularly held before matches about where warm-ups should be taking place, with certain areas deemed out of bounds to keep them protected. A maximum of eight ground staff are allowed within the ‘ red zone’ thanks to Covid rules, which is also having an impact as some clubs employ as many as 14 workers on their teams.

‘ Traditionally, pitches are replaced around every 10 years but every summer they are renovated,’ one insider explained. ‘That process takes 8-10 weeks and for many there hasn’t been the time to do it.

‘Some clubs took a chance when football first stopped and did it then, but others didn’t. You add that to the amount of football that’s being crammed in a shortened season, and the wet winter, and it’s the perfect storm.’

The problem is more severe outside the top flight, with Blackburn’s fixture with Swansea on Tuesday night postponed due to an ‘ unplayable’ surface. Many other clubs, including Sunderland and Tranmere, have suffered similar issues.