Kilmarnock examine prospect of replacing pitch at Rugby Park

The artificial surface at Rugby Park has been in place since the summer of 2014

Kilmarnock are to consider replacing their artificial pitch this summer.

It emerged in the club's annual accounts that "a feasibility study is under way", but they are not committed to reverting to a grass park.

The current surface, which was laid in 2014, has been routinely criticised by opposition clubs.

In August, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said "elite football shouldn't be played on plastic pitches" following an injury to Jamie Murphy.

The winger remains sidelined by the knee ligament damage he suffered.

At the time, Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke suggested his side's injury record was no worse than anybody else's.

The current pitch provides commercial revenue as well as training facilities for the first team, who had previously been hiring alternative facilities in Glasgow.

On the financial front, Kilmarnock reported a trading loss of £181,174 for the year ending 30 May, 2018.

This is in stark contrast to the previous year when they posted a profit of £967,672, most of which was down to income from transfer fees, in particular the the sale of Souleymane Coulibaly to Al Ahly.

The newly-released accounts state no fees were received for players who left the club during the year.

Kilmarnock's on-field success has led to an increase in expenditure on salaries and bonuses due to the club finishing fifth in the Scottish Premiership last season.

There was a 21% increase in commercial revenue, while season ticket sales were up approximately 14%. Turnover was £5.1m, similar to the figure from the previous year.