Gillingham Football Club Chairman Paul Scally has today announced that the pitch at the Medway Priestfield is going to be replaced over the coming weeks. 

Concern had been expressed over the pitch over recent weeks and the Chairman has acted to ensure that the playing surface can be replaced during the season, which is going to result in some unavoidable fixture changes. However, if it does improve the surface of the pitch and Steve Lovell’s men can then get back to winning ways then the fans won’t mind.

At the moment the plan is for the Southend United Sky Bet League One fixture to go ahead as planned on Saturday 13th October, with the Tottenham Hotspur U21 Checkatrade Trophy match to be played at an alternative venue, to be announced in due course. The next home game for Tuesday October 2nd against Blackpool will be rearranged.

Speaking about the relaying of the pitch, Paul Scally said: “As a result of concerns, which were apparent after the Burton, and subsequent home games, to do with the playing surface we called in professional advisers who, having gathered test analysis, came to the conclusion that the only way we could solve the problem was to completely replace the pitch.

“We have now found an appropriate pitch, which will be a hybrid pitch, that is to say a pitch that is partly plastic and part grass, and the whole job is going to cost in the region of £450,000.

“Whilst there are many things we could do with that money, it is quite clear that the pitch has to be replaced as it is affecting our performance and is actually becoming dangerous to play on.

“Given the time of season, obviously between games, we have to go with a hybrid pitch. There is one available in this country, which we have secured, and the cost has to be paid this month.

“The upside is that we will get a fantastic playing surface which will be ready and available for our fixture against Southend on Saturday October 13.

“We will update supporters on the progress. At the same time as taking up the pitch we intend to do the drainage and the irrigation system so we will have a pitch that we will know will give us a good number of years as a top quality surface.

“Apologies to fans for the inconvenience insofar as the change of fixtures is concerned, but this is unavoidable and is in the best interest of the club and indeed the team going forward.”

Work will get underway on the playing surface at the Medway Priestfield on Monday.