Oxford United’s much-criticised Kassam Stadium pitch was laid bare yesterday as preparations began to lay a new semi-synthetic grass.

Bulldozers ripped up the surface, which was well past its natural life and suffered particularly following London Welsh’s arrival in 2012.

Work started in the early morning and by mid-afternoon all the grass had gone.

It will be replaced by a combination of grass and synthetic fibres called Xtragrass by its manufacturer Greenfields.

United

It is specially designed to handle pitches used by multiple teams, and is already being laid at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, which is shared by Coventry City FC and Wasps Rugby Club.

It is reputed to have a life of ten years, given the right amount of maintenance.

The pitch came in for severe criticism last season, when Oxford United’s intentions to play the ball on the ground came unstuck due to the uneven surface.