Work has begun on transforming Portman Road ahead of Wednesday's Elton John concert. A stage is being erected at the Greene King Stand end of the ground with seats for around 25,000 on the pitch and in the other stands.

Award-winning Town groundsman Alan Ferguson told the club site that he is not worried about the surface being damaged: "There will be seats on the pitch but the pitch will be covered and we are very confident everything will be fine.

"The guys putting the stage up are under a lot of pressure time wise and I'm just here to keep an eye on things but they are very professional.

"Then as soon as the concert is over, we will be back working on the pitch, getting it ready for the start of the season."

Town are not far away from selling out the concert, with 23,000 tickets sold up to last month. Seats are still available from here.

Young British singer-songwriter James Blunt is the other name on Wednesday's bill.

The Blues will make a six-figure sum from the concert and will be looking at staging two or three similar events next summer.

Photo: Action Images

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