The Premier League is currently canvassing opinion on safe standing at football grounds, something advocated by West Ham United co-owner David Gold.
General view outside the stadium before a match
The Hammers want to introduce safe standing at their 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium home with co-owner Gold having held talks last September.
Gold is a big advocate for safe standing and has been involved in the process of trying to add a non-seating section to the London Stadium to help improve atmosphere and ensure like-minded supporters have more choice to stand together.
West Ham discussed the idea with the same company who installed the Ferco Seating system at Celtic Park in the summer, as reported by The Sun.
Now Sky Sports has reported that West Bromwich Albion have thrown their hat into the ring to be part of the pilot scheme.
And given West Ham’s standing on the issue, they could well be next.
The Premier League has written to all 20 clubs asking if they would be interested in taking part in a trial, which could eventually see the reintroduction of standing areas within grounds.
It is thought that the government and police forces remain opposed to the idea on safety grounds.
West Ham fans
Sky reports a Department of Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: “The government currently has no plans to change its position and introduce standing accommodation at grounds covered by the all-seater requirement.”
Clubs in England’s top two divisions have been legally required to have all-seater grounds since the measure was recommended by the 1990 Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster.
The last time the issue was raised, as previously reported by HITC, Gold said: “I have been speaking with the people who put in the rail seating at Celtic Park.
“I have been an advocate of this for many years and it is something I am working on.
Safe standing advocate David Gold at the London Stadium
“We are working on it. I believe in it, we are in touch and we will do everything we can to resolve the issue.”
The Hammers were reportedly set to meet with the FA and Premier League about the idea but a torrid second season under Slaven Bilic and a number of issues with the stadium move ended up taking priority.
But now with the matter back on the agenda, West Ham could be next to sign up for the scheme.
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