Jon Dahl Tomasson is making his mark at Rovers - with the Ewood Park and Brockhall training ground pitches no exception.

Tomasson is aiming to instil his methods on the club, which includes the playing style and a quest for high-intensity football.

As a result, the head coach has requested the Ewood pitch to be cut as short as possible, and also heavily watered, to allow the ball to travel as quickly across it.

Head groundsman Trevor Wilkin explained: “The manager wants the pitch scalping as short as we can cut it, as wet as we can get it, so the ball is zipping along.”

The challenge will be when the winter months hit, but for now at least Tomasson will get his way.

Wilkin is approaching 40 years at the club and was this week recognised by the Premier League for his long-service.

Tomasson has also requested changes to the training pitches at Brockhall ahead of away games, depending on the opposition.

For example, with Reading up next on the road, the groundstaff will look to replicate the playing surface size at the Select Car Leasing Stadium at the training ground.

That will allow for Rovers to prepare as best as possible for their away fixtures.

“At the minute down at the training ground we have four pitches and the new manager has requested that we research the pitch sizes of the away games,” Wilkin added.

“Next Wednesday we’re playing at Reading so we’ll get the dimensions of that pitch and try and adjust the training pitches to those measurements.

“It is (unique) to change it week by week.

“Most managers want the biggest pitch you can get, to change it by whatever exact dimension is a hard task.”

 The Ewood playing surface has long been a topic of conversation among supporters, with former boss Tony Mowbray among those to criticise the pitch during the challenging 2020/21 season.

Wilkin takes critique of the pitch personally, unsurprising given his longevity in charge of the playing surface.

He believes the current pitch is in ‘a good place’ helped by investment in the summer, an increase of around £500,000 on extra lighting and also two ‘stitched’ areas of the pitch.

A move to a state-of-the-art pitch, with the current one over 30 years old, would cost the club at least £2m and something that has been discussed in order to protect its longevity.

And Wilkin said: “We’ve spent some money this year, invested in some more lighting rigs, we’ve had stitching in the wings which will reinforce it, so it’s in a good place, as long as we look after it and don’t abuse it.”

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