The problematic Turf Moor pitch will undergoing major surgery this summer to try to resolve three problem areas.

The diggers moved in this week to unearth three large patches that have been a major headache for ground staff throughout the season.

The hope is that once this work is complete, the worst affected areas should have better drainage to limit the risk of previous postponements caused by unrelenting rain in the hours approaching kick off.

Stadium manager Doug Metcalfe said: "It has been well documented that we have issues with our current stadium pitch, even though we did not lose any games on it last season.

"Because of that, we are focusing on the three main problem areas, namely the goalmouth at the cricket pitch end and the two wet areas adjacent to the home and away dug outs.

"They have literally been excavated down to the sand base and we are performing a full reconstruction in those areas.

"The rest of the pitch will undergo the normal renovation work and we are hoping to see some real benefit from the three problem areas."

Doug, who recently appointed Paul Bradshaw as new head groundsman, added: "We have a new, dynamic ground staff team in place and the pitch will improve under Paul's guidance.

"A lot of people will say 'why are you not digging it all up?' and ideally we would reconstruct the whole pitch, providing new irrigation and undersoil heating.

"But that is at a cost of between £600-700,000 and that would seriously affect any transfer funds available to the manager.

"It is something we are looking to put into a future budget, but in the meantime if we can resolve these three problem areas, at least that highlights what does need to be done more extensively."