Fans may not move if United are promoted

DISCUSSIONS CENTRE ON SAFETY AND SEGREGATION

AWAY fans look unlikely to be moved to pitchside at St James’ Park next season if the club are promoted to the Premier League – with Newcastle United putting together a compelling case for exemption from new rules designed to boost stadium atmospheres through the top flight.

Premier League clubs agreed earlier in the season that at least one block of away fans must be situated at pitchside to protect the atmosphere at games – which top flight chiefs believe is one of the main selling points of the league.

It is unlikely to affect most of the topflight clubs; but in the event of promotion it would have a major impact on Newcastle, who put away fans in the top level of the Leazes End.

The club believe that there are compelling safety reasons for not moving fans – with any move to pitchside making it difficult to segregate fans at certain exits at St James’ Park. They have put those to the Premier League and an exemption is set to be agreed on safety grounds.

At the last fans forum, the club confirmed they had carried out “assessments”. “The club explained that in response to the rule change, a number of independent assessments had been made in relation to the safety concerns around moving away fans,” the notes read.

“The results of such assessments, which are supported by the local authority, have been presented to the Premier League and discussions are ongoing.”

It may cause some controversy among the Football Supporters Federation, who backed the Premier League’s move to keep fans at pitchside.

Earlier in the year Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore said: “Basically you won’t be able to be stuck up in the third tier, out in the corner, if you’re an away fan,

“It’s about atmosphere. One of the unique things about our game, particularly in England, is the amount of away fans and the noise they create. When an away goal is scored, you want that atmosphere and interaction between the two sets of fans.”

Newcastle are not taking promotion for granted, but making provisions for such a major move makes sense.

United are the only club in contention for automatic promotion who would have to move supporters, and they have been in discussions with top-flight officials in case they do go up.