Kilmarnock Delays Grass Pitch Transition Amid Controversy
- Kilmarnock originally planned to switch to a grass pitch for the start of the 2025-26 season.
- The change coincides with the delayed completion of the Bowie Park Training Centre.
- Kilmarnock will now be forced to keep their artificial pitch for another year despite ongoing opposition.
Kilmarnock Football Club has postponed their plans to replace the artificial pitch at Rugby Park with a grass surface until the 2026-27 season. Originally, they intended to make the switch in time for the upcoming season, aligning this change with the construction of their Bowie Park Training Centre, which received planning permission in June 2024. Due to delays in completing this new training facility, the club is now compelled to retain the synthetic surface for an additional year. As the sole team in the Premiership using a plastic pitch, Kilmarnock faces criticism from managers, players, and fans alike. This decision comes after Premiership clubs voted to abolish artificial pitches by 2026-27, allowing teams a two-year grace period to transition to natural grass. Kilmarnock's decision to wait until just before the deadline highlights the ongoing resistance to artificial surfaces, with key figures in football advocating for a return to traditional grass for better match conditions.