The club can issue the following update to supporters regarding the playing surface at The Citadel
Following on from the first phase of the “ground-killing” works w/c 11/11, the contractor was unfortunately unable to attend last week due to the weather conditions, however they have now completed their work on site.
The ground will be tested in the middle of next week (timing to be confirmed) at which point it will also be decided if another CBR survey will be required (which tests the soil strength and stiffness) given the unexpected length of time the earth has been exposed. Should this be required we have an engineering company lined up ready to go immediately.
Once that assessment is completed the contractor will be able to provide us with an updated plan of work which we will of course share with you.
The contractor has also agreed to work longer days (under the floodlights) and also to work over the festive period to try and get the job completed as quickly as possible, as we are all acutely aware of the impacts not playing at home is having on all involved.
Once again we apologise for the delays in completing the pitch. We are fully aware of the impact and implications this is having on people’s lives and believe us when we say we share that pain and frustration with you. We can assure you that we have and will continue to do all we can to try and complete the job as quickly as possible while remaining fully committed to delivering this project.
We are aware that at times the information shared isn’t as detailed as you may wish, it isn’t as detailed as we want it to be but we can only share what dates and information is given to us and this project has turned out, as some construction projects do to be a total nightmare!
However, we have to put this short term pain into the context of the longer term club’s future, and this investment is not only the biggest by far that this club has ever seen, but it also assures the long term future of our club and will be the foundation upon which we can grow and take that step to the next level.
So please stick with us, please continue to support the first team, our women’s team, our deaf guys and all of our fantastic grassroots, development and academy teams who are as ever giving it all wearing our badge!
