Work has commenced at Rugby Park, the home of Kilmarnock Football Club, to install a new state-of-the-art 3G pitch.

The project will take place over the close season, the Board of Directors confirmed this morning.

Following completion of the work, Rugby Park will become a seven day per week facility, and the hub for all of the club's activities.

Allsports Construction & Maintenance has been named as the main contractor for the project, and Managing Director Gordon Thompson commented: "I'm delighted to be involved in this prestigious project. This will be a superb facility for Kilmarnock FC. I have been personally involved in almost three hundred 3G pitch installations over 18 years and will bring all of my expertise to bear on making sure Kilmarnock FC has a pitch to be proud of."

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Elsewhere, FieldTurf has been selected as the synthetic turf system to be installed at the ground, while Sports Labs – Scotland's only FIFA accredited independent consultants – will oversee the project and test the pitch to ensure compliance with FIFA 2 Star and International Rugby Board criteria.

Funding for the project is being provided by Billy Bowie Special Projects Limited and owner Billy Bowie said: "I'm fully committed to making this project happen as soon as possible in order to make Rugby Park the focus of all of the club's activities. This will transform the way the stadium is utilised in future and will be of real benefit to everyone associated with the club."

Chairman Michael Johnston added: "The first team squad will be based at Rugby Park in future, having previously trained at the Glasgow University Sports Campus, and our youth teams will train and play on the new 3G pitch.

"The club's Community Department will host a full range of courses and activities at Rugby Park and we expect to add more cup finals and other sports events to the limited number which we can accommodate at present.

"The team will be reunited with the town it represents and the club's supporters will enjoy greater contact with the players and team management. Open training sessions will become a regular event."

(JP/IT)