Tuesday 17 February 2015 16:19, UK
Blackpool have begun work on improving the poor state of their pitch.
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka last week branded the Bloomfield Road playing surface "impossible to play on" and accused the Tangerines of showing a "lack of respect" to fans, while Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman on Saturday blamed the pitch for an injury to his captain Jack Hobbs.
Blackpool say they are now carrying out "remedial work" ahead of their next home fixture, against Wigan a week on Saturday, and plan to tear the pitch up during the summer.
A statement on the club website read: "Remedial pitch work is under way to improve the Bloomfield Road playing surface.
"The club recently consulted the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) and arranged for the organisation to survey the current condition of the pitch.
"After discussions between Blackpool FC ground staff and the IOG, a process of remedial work - to include verti-draining and reseeding - will take place prior to the club's next home fixture against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, February 28.
"The current pitch will then be completely ripped up in the off-season, ahead of the 2015/16 campaign."
