Kilmarnock Delays Rugby Park Grass Replacement

Kilmarnock has announced a delay in its plan to replace the controversial artificial pitch at Rugby Park with a natural grass surface, rescheduling the transition for the start of the 2026-27 season. [MailSport]

This change in timeline also affects the construction of their Bowie Park Training Centre, which was initially intended to be built alongside the removal of the synthetic surface.

The club, currently the only Scottish Premiership side playing on an artificial pitch, was set to comply with the league’s directive mandating the phase-out of artificial surfaces by the 2026-27 season. This decision followed a vote last May by Premiership clubs who expressed widespread dissatisfaction with synthetic pitches due to concerns raised by players, coaches, and fans about their impact on play quality and safety.

The delay may disappoint teams like Celtic, who have been vocal about their disapproval of artificial surfaces, with many players expressing concerns over increased injury risks and altered Gameplay.

With Kilmarnock’s revised timeline aligning closely with the league’s deadline, they will have just enough time to make the switch and avoid penalties.

This weekend, Celtic will face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, where the artificial pitch remains a point of contention.

It will be interesting to see if Rodgers makes any changes for the match, with some players just returning from injury.