Dons review future of Red Shed stand

Dons bosses will meet police and council chiefs next week to discuss the future of one of the stands at Pittodrie.

The Red Shed was introduced last year to boost the crowd atmosphere and has 2,000 unallocated seats.

But in recent weeks, the club has reported issues with vandals and flares being set off – prompting next week’s talks with licensing chiefs and police.

Aberdeen FC chairman Dave Cormack took to Twitter yesterday to announce he and commercial director Robert Wicks would attend the meetings.

He said Aberdeen City Council and the police are “100% dictating policing” and stewarding and they will do their utmost to find a balance.

Last month, nearly £10,000 of damage was caused to the Red Shed, including seats, toilet areas and exit gates, during a match against Rangers.

At the time, club bosses

warned the small group was jeopardising the future of the Red Shed.

Since the seating is unallocated, the club wrote to every season ticket holder to ask for help in identifying the culprits.

In his tweets, Mr Cormack said: “Having championed the Red Shed, we plan to meet with Aberdeen City Council (ACC) and Police Scotland next week. They are 100% dictating policing/ stewarding.

“We are here because of pyros/vandalism caused by a few. We will do our

upmost working with ACC/ police to get right balance.”

Mr Cormack continued: “The reason for my silence is simply down to the fact that I don’t want anything that I might say to be taken out of context that would be detrimental to the team.”

The Red Shed was set up in partnership with the licensing authorities and police.

The initiative has helped attract younger supporters to the stadium.

Aberdeen FC declined to comment further on the meeting.

TROUBLE SPOT: There have been outbreaks of vandalism in the Red Shed.

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack.