A TEST pit dug in the middle of the Gigg Lane playing surface has solved the waterlogging puzzle that has plagued Shakers groundsman Mike Curtis and his staff for seasons.

It would appear that the drains that were laid below the pitch in the summer of 1994, were, for some reason, COVERED by the same waterproof hessian-type sheeting that the stone chippings for the drainage were laid on.

When the top layer of hessian was removed from the test pit it was found that the chippings were perfectly clean and dry.

Clearly, the mail-bag type material has been preventing water from reaching the drain explaining why some of the outlet pipes have never been seen to empty water since they were laid.

"As groundsmen, Gordon Horrocks and I voiced our concern at the time, to be honest," explained Curtis.

"But the company who were doing the work ignored us and did it that way regardless.

"We've also since discovered that the drains, which were laid 22 inches down should, ideally only have been 12 inches below the surface.

"So it's not surprising the pitch holds water the way it does."

A series of trenches were dug across the pitch when the drainage was laid 12 years ago and the club are to look at ways of re-digging them to remove the troublesome material in the summer.

An 18-inch plough of the entire pitch, to break up the 'pan' - the hard layer of compacted soil - that lies below the surface, is also on the agenda and various experts are to be consulted in the coming months to draw up an action plan for the close season.