Town are considering moving some of next season's reserve matches away from Portman Road in order to prevent the pitch deteriorating as it did during 2002/03.

The hallowed turf is currently undergoing £32,000 worth of work while environmental tests have shown that some areas of the surface are not getting enough light, something that more translucent sheeting and further work in the future will help improve.

Three hundred tonnes of sand has been added along with new grass which will help with drainage. The pitch next season will be at a slightly higher level than previously.

Award-winning groundsman Alan Ferguson says that moving a few reserve games away from the stadium may make some difference: "There were times last season when the surface was poor and some teams — no disrespect to them — were coming here and being able to compete on equal terms because the ball was in the air so much. Some of our quality ball players were being taken out of the game because of the pitch.

"We are considering moving the reserve matches away, but we don't want to take them all to another ground because playing in the stadium is a vital part of a young players' development."

In the mid-nineties Town moved their reserve matches to Bury Town's Ram Meadow for similar reasons.

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