Top-flight clubs will be discussing safe standing at a meeting of Premier League chairmen and chief executives next week.

The Football Supporters Federation has welcomed news that Premier league clubs are set to discuss safe standing for the first time at their meeting next week.

A statement on www.fsf.org.uk said.

The Times reported this morning that rail seating will be on the agenda at the next Premier League shareholders’ meeting, due to be held on Thursday, November 18th.

The Football Supporters’ Federation welcomes this step forward and that clubs are willing to look seriously at the feasibility of safe standing in the Premier League.

FSF safe standing campaign co-ordinator Peter Daykin said: "We welcome the news that safe standing will be discussed by the clubs at the next Premier League meeting.

"Fans have been asking for this to be looked at for many years now and it’s great to see clubs are willing to discuss it.

"Clubs have no doubt seen how well safe standing has been working at Celtic and the value it’s bringing to Parkhead.

"We’re very interested in seeing what comes from the Premier League meeting and offer our support in any further discussions with clubs and the league."

From a personal perspective and also to what it could mean at St Mary's I think most football fans will be pleased to see that at last the clubs are taking notice, things have moved on from the days of terracing back in the 80's, back then things had to change, what safe standing would be now is far removed from the crumbling terraces of 30 years ago, things had to change and now that they have things also have to evolve.

Even Liverpool spporters groups who have long opposed any form of a return to standing are now accepting that it is time to explore just exactly what it entails and how it has changed from over 3 decades ago,

It is now in use in Scotland and of course in Germany for many years without issues.,

- See more at: http://www.fsf.org.uk/latest-news/view/premier-league-clubs-to-discuss-safe-stan

Photo: Action Images

arfurdent added 16:56 - Nov 11 bet the Chairmen sit down for the meeting
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SaintBrock added 19:04 - Nov 11 You write as though we all know what safe standing is, Nick. What is it 'cos I for one do not have clue. Having been born and brought up in an era of standing, I've done my share of that and all the discomfort it brings, pinned against barriers during crowd surges, getting almost trampled at the final whistle as our weekly race to see who can get out first starts - no thank you. There is nothing at all to complain about seating and access at SMS so why try to fix something that isn't broken. People died before anybody did anything about unsafe standing and uncontrolled congestion at entrances and exits so for heaven's sake remember the price that was paid before, before we take another tragic step back into the past.

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BarnetSaint added 07:43 - Nov 12 I'll tell you how this move could benefit the atmos at SMS at a stroke. Designate a couple of the blocks at the back of the Chapel for standing. A second singing mob move there and they would get the whole end going. Sorted!
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saintmark1976 added 09:23 - Nov 12 If I may say so an excellent and considered post SaintBrock. The cynical side of me makes me wonder if this is just another way of the clubs increasing ground capacity at little cost as I assume more people can stand in any given area if the seats are taken away?
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aceofthebase added 10:18 - Nov 12 I suppose ticket prices would be halved or even less for the standing spectators. Allowances for shorter supporters would be reflected in prices too or maybe not.
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highfield49 added 18:27 - Nov 12 I'm not too bothered if clubs are allowed to have a safe standing area if there is a demand, However, in return I would expect the seating regulations everywhere else to be respected by those muppets who feel the need to ignore the present rules. Why should I be forced to stand to see the game just because some selfish and often abusive individuals ignore stewards requests to sit down? And, for those younger or fitter than myself if you happened to suffer from knee, hip or back problems believe me the last thing you want to do is stand up for 90 mins.

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Mushty added 07:28 - Nov 13 Excellent news, then everyone gets a choice, those that want to sit sit, those that want to stand can, for the first time in this country, stand safely. You'll never stop fans standing in seated areas if that's all that is available - and that is the most dangerous situation presently. This way everyone gets to choose how they want to watch a game of football.
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BarnetSaint added 08:57 - Nov 13 Going back to my point, designate rear blocks for those that want to stand, they wont get in the way of those who want to sit and best of all will improve the atmos. Noise wise, there is absoloutely no advantage when we attack towards the Chapel end. A couple of blocks sinhingbin there will get others to join in.
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Mushty added 10:34 - Nov 13 I'd suggest we have around 3,000 persistent stander's and probably a lot more that would like to stand. If the top of the Chapel was to be converted you'd have to stretch it right to the corners (and slightly around) to go towards satisfying demand and to actually make it work. Just doing 2 or 3 upper blocks would cause issues for those sitting adjacently and cater for little more than 5-700. For site lines for 'sitters' it would have to wrap halfway round the corner blocks. Sounds good to me, and I'm an old git.

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SaintBrock added 11:36 - Nov 14 Suppose the policy is changed and every club including Saints decided to allocate one section for standing. No matter where it was located it would affect many fans who cannot or prefer not to stand for one reason or another but have had their own ST seat in that section for many years. How then to accommodate their needs and wishes especially if they don't want to move? You please one group whilst antagonising another. These are all considerations that decision makers must weigh into the balance.

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ItchenNorth added 16:26 - Nov 14 There's some dumb comments on here ! Safe Standing works perfectly well in other leagues, it will work here as well.
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redwight added 18:29 - Nov 14 ItchenNorth is right and this is long overdue. The accepted wisdom that standing by definition is dangerous is just lazy thinking - it isn't. I heard someone say recently that it has no bearing on capacity, but this surely cannot be correct. It obviously touches on the question of expanding SMS and it would be good to have some information from a reliable source. Surely this would be the cheapest way of increasing the capacity, as well as making everyone happy - as others have already said.

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Mushty added 19:08 - Nov 14 It's very unlikely to increase capacity as, in effect, it would be very similar to today's seats, difference being there'd be a rail in front of you. It would be one standing space allocated per person just as a seat would, taking up the same area. If they can't stop standing in seated areas, which obviously they can't, then the safest thing to do is introduce this safe standing. Trouble is, those opposed just hear the word 'standing' and all logic goes out the window and refuse to accept the bleeding common sense (and probably safest option in the stadium) solution.

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