Coventry City: Wasps to lay temporary Ricoh Arena pitch

Wasps completed their takeover of the Ricoh Arena that month, with Coventry City playing there as tenants

Wasps have announced plans to immediately install a new temporary pitch at the Ricoh Arena to improve the surface for the rest of the season.

Concerns have been raised about the state of the pitch since Coventry City returned to the stadium in September.

Wasps hope relaying it now will give themselves and the Sky Blues "the best chance of success on the field".

Plans to put in a hybrid pitch, made of natural grass and synthetic fibres, will go ahead as planned in the summer.

The temporary pitch, which will be funded by Arena Coventry Ltd - the company that runs the Ricoh Arena - is expected to be ready for Coventry's League One game against Fleetwood on Saturday, 20 December.

Wasps play their first game at the ground against London Irish in the Premiership the following day.

"This is a significant investment by ACL to improve the present condition of the pitch, which we hope will give the rugby and football clubs a better platform on which to perform," Wasps chief executive Nick Eastwood told the club website.

"We are not willing to compromise on the quality of the playing surface and recognise that this issue needs to be addressed now, so we have provided the best temporary solution available to us."