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Wanderers have decided to delay replacing the playing surface at the Toughsheet Community stadium for a further year.
Plans were in place to relay the pitch after the conclusion of last season, although this was delayed by the recent Pink concerts.
The surface began to deteriorate last term as a result of Wanderers’ busy fixture list. The stadium also hosted a Rugby League World Cup match.
However, chief executive Neil Hart says the pitch has recovered “extremely well” and is confident that with “significant investment” this summer, the grounds staff can “deliver and maintain a high-quality surface” over the coming season.
He told the club website: “In the spirit of total transparency, we have made the decision to delay a full stadium pitch replacement for a further year while assessing the pitch this summer.
“We feel that it has recovered extremely well on the back of a difficult 2022/23 winter period and the recent concert programme, and with significant investment this summer, we are confident the grounds staff can deliver and maintain a high-quality surface for the forthcoming campaign.”
The club has also outlined the rest of the work that is being carried out with the funds generated from the Wanderers Bond.
A portion of the investment been dedicated to the Whites’ football and recruitment budget in a bid to “further enhance” Ian Evatt’s squad.
More than £250,000 is being spent on improving the playing surfaces at the stadium and the Lostock training ground.
Additionally, more than £500,000 being spent on the West and East Stand conference, events and hospitality areas, including new seating and furniture in all corporate areas.
As previously discussed, supporters will see new LED advertising boards and the installation of two big screens in the South-East and North-West corners to replace to existing scoreboard.
These changes are part of the club’s new partnership and will turn the Toughsheet Community Stadium into “one of the most digitally advanced facilities in the EFL”.
Wanderers are also working with Eventura to improve the network and connectivity in the stadium, although this will take time.
Finally, the club has worked closely with the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust and the Disability Supporters’ Association to “enhance the accessible facilities within the stadium” and will issue a further update regarding these improvements in due course.
Hart added: “The board continues to invest in the keys areas of the club, enabling us to dually improve the supporter and guest experience and place the club on a stronger and stable financial footing.
“We are also working hard to rectify some of the aging areas in the stadium such as damaged concourse floors, improved condiment areas in the concourses, leaking roofs, and improved way-finder signage throughout all home concourse areas.
"Finally, we ask all supporters and non-matchday guests to bear with us as some of these works will continue into the early part of the 2023/24 season."
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