A GREENOCK football park which has been plagued with problems is being dug up – just six months after it opened.

Work is underway once again at Rankin Park in a bid to finally solve drainage issues hampering the grass pitch.

The surface was declared ready for action in August following a £1.5 million council investment, which also included construction of a new pavilion.

Concerns were raised about the state of the pitch on numerous occasions by SNP group leader and former junior footballer Councillor Chris McEleny, who branded it a ‘mud bath’ and claimed it was ‘flooded and diseased’ in the run-up to the opening.

The local authority initially insisted that the park was playable and in good condition with regeneration convener Cllr Michael McCormick accusing critics of ‘mischief-making’.

But council leader Stephen McCabe later acknowledged the project had fallen below expectations, adding that this was ‘due to difficulties with the performance of the contractor’.

Now extra work is being carried out to try and resolve the drainage problems once and for all.

At a meeting of the environment and regeneration committee, councillors were told about checks on drainage pipes in one area of the site.

Councillor McCormick, inset, said: “Rankin Park is a key asset for the community and since it opened last summer it has become clear there was an issue with drainage in an area close to one corner of the pitch.

“While this hasn’t been a major problem affecting the use of the pitch it was clearly something we had to investigate and rectify.”

The affected area has since been excavated and the pipes carrying water from the pitch into the main drainage system were examined.

It was discovered that there are problems with the connections of the pipes, causing a reduction in water flow and a build-up of silt and debris leading to a partial blockage.

Officials stress that any additional remedial work cost will be met by the original contractor.

Cllr McCormick said: “These pipes were laid as part of the pitch contract and the council will ensure the original contractor meets the cost of putting the problem right.

“Once completed Rankin Park will take its place as the premier grass pitch in the council’s portfolio of leisure sites promoting healthy lifestyles and providing some of the best footballing facilities in the country.”

Amateur side Belleaire, who play at Rankin Park, are understood to have played only a ‘couple’ of games on the pitch since it re-opened while Inverclyde AFC said on Twitter recently that they have played there ‘once since it opened’.

Work is also underway on a new £240,000 mountain bike centre at Rankin Park.

The new facility is due to be completed in the spring.

The Rankin project, which includes a link track, a balance bike track and an area to practice skills, is supported by a £90,000 Sportscotland grant from the Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund, with Inverclyde Council providing £150,000.