Colchester United: Pitch size to be altered to fix drainage issues

Colchester's recent home matches against Doncaster, Stockport and Grimsby have all been called off following wet weather

Colchester United have had permission to reduce the size of their pitch to help fix drainage problems.

The League Two club had to postpone their last two home games at the Colchester Community Stadium after rainfall led to a waterlogged pitch.

But the EFL has given its approval for the changes to take place ahead of Saturday's home game against Walsall.

"We are grateful to the EFL for approving the change mid-season," U's general manager Tim Waddington said.

"After exhaustive discussion, it was thought that the risk of further postponements could only be realistically reduced if the pitch was moved away from the real problem areas."

The pitch will now be narrowed by four metres to 64m (210ft) and shortened by three metres to 102m (335ft).

Colchester are currently second from bottom in League Two with 11 games left to play.

They are one point adrift of safety, but as a result of the postponements, they have two games in hand over Forest Green Rovers who are immediately above them in the table.