Safe standing: Wolves become first Premier League club to install rail seats at current home

Safe standing: Wolves become first Premier League club to install rail seats at current home
Wolves have installed various safe-standing options at Molineux, making them the first Premier League club to do so at their current stadium.A mix of rail seats and seats with separate barriers have been installed in a currently unused block of the Billy Wright Stand to show fans and the local Safety Advisory Group how they would work when the law banning persistent standing is dropped.4

Wolves have built safe standing sections at Molineux

Wolves are also putting in two further options – barriers in front of existing seats – later this week in order to demonstrate five solutions in total, the Black Country club have announced.In a statement, managing director Laurie Dalrymple said: “As a club we are keen to be at the forefront of innovation and progression, so the opportunity to install these examples of potential safe-standing solutions was one we were very happy to explore.“Whilst the seats themselves will not be operational or used at matches, we are now able to give our Fan’s Parliament group and local authority the opportunity to view all the options before some of these solutions become commonplace in UK stadiums. “We are now actively working on plans regarding the development and expansion of Molineux in line with the club’s ambitions on and off the pitch, and we see this as another example of how we plan to meet supporters’ expectations and desires as we deliver a stadium that meets all of our requirements.”Grounds in England’s two top divisions have had to be all-seater ever since the 1989 Hillsborough disaster but the government is reviewing that legislation, with most safety experts expecting it to be relaxed in the coming months.That would bring the Premier League and Championship in line with Leagues One and Two, as well as grounds in Scotland, where Celtic became the first British club to introduce Bundesliga-style rail seats in 2016.4

The safe standing section at Shrewsbury Town’s Montgomery Waters Meadow stadium

Wolves’ midlands neighbours West Brom asked for permission to pilot a safe-standing section, with rail seats, at the Hawthorns last season, but their request was rejected by the then sports minister Tracey Crouch.She told the club she remained unconvinced that standing sections could ever be as safe as seated areas and later told the Press Association that only “a vocal minority” were interested in scrapping the all-seater rule.Within weeks, however, an online petition forced Crouch to grant a parliamentary debate on the matter and, with growing support for change from the clubs, the government eventually agreed to a review.Judging the direction of travel, Tottenham have installed 7,500 seats with a safety barrier in front of them at their rebuilt White Hart Lane home. These seats can be flipped up and perhaps even locked in place to create a standing area.4

Tottenham’s new stadium will have a safe standing option

The Sports Ground Safety Authority has confirmed that Spurs’ “safe-seating” idea is compliant with the government’s current all-seater policy, providing strict conditions on maintenance and stewarding are kept.Everton have also said their proposed new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock has been designed with the flexibility to have large standing areas, while Manchester City are among the clubs currently considering where standing sections could be introduced to their grounds.But with Spurs unlikely to move into their state-of-the-art home until March at the earliest, Wolves are the first big English club to actually fit safe-standing solutions in their current home.4

Celtic installed a standing section in 2016

Safe-standing campaigner Jon Darch told Press Association Sport: “We anticipate that Safety Advisory Groups will be looking closely at clubs with areas of persistent standing and will most likely encourage them to enhance spectator safety in those areas by installing rail seats like those now on show at Molineux.“I also anticipate that legislation will change to allow clubs to operate areas, fitted with such seating, as formal standing areas. That could potentially happen this year.”

---

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stuns Manchester United players in training. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to play for a United legends XI on Sunday to mark the 20th anniversary of
Deal Off: Man Utd To Miss Out On Jadon Sancho - Thewistle

---

'Bayern Munich target' Hudson-Odoi dazzles for Chelsea in FA Cup. Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi should not leave the club because he has a "very great future" in England, says boss Maurizio Sarri.
Callum Hudson-Odoi leaning toward stay with Chelsea

---

Tony Cascarino claims N'Golo Kante may look to leave Chelsea if he continues to be played out of position by manager Maurizio Sarri. Kante is regarded as one of the best holding midfielders in world football, if not the best, but Sarri has made the strange decision to play the Frenchman in wider and a more attacking role to accommodate new
Chelsea news: Maurizio Sarri is 'stupid' to keep playing N
hollywoodadviser.com/chelsea-news-maurizio-sarri-is-stupid-to-keep-playing-ngolo-kante-out-of-position-says-tony-cascarino/
Tony Cascarino has said it is 'stupid' for Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri to keep playing N'Golo Kante out of his best position. The World Cup winner has been shifted out from his favoured holding role to a more advanced role on the left side of midfield this season by the new Blues boss.
Rep. Garamendi Says U.S. Has No Choice But to Pass

---

6 things Tottenham need to do to win a trophy next season. of all that has been good in the last five years and must do everything he can to make sure he stays in north London. club around
Video: "Five Things The Saints Must Do To Turn Their Season

---

Manchester United vs Barcelona: Philippe Coutinho 'only thinking' about knocking Liverpool's rivals out of Champions League If Barca beat Man United, the Brazilian could face his former club
Philippe Coutinho 'only thinking' about knocking Liverpool's

---

Marko Arnautovic: West Ham striker left out of squad to face

---

Welcome to the Evening Standard's LIVE blog dedicated to the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip. Eden Hazard's exit from Chelsea has been officially confirmed with Real Madrid announcing
Chelsea's Hazard says 'I think it is a goodbye' - espn.com

---

Chelsea face partial closure of Stamford Bridge if fans are found guilty of anti-Semitism UEFA will decide whether or not to open a disciplinary case against the Premier League club on Friday By
Chelsea face partial stadium closure over alleged racist

---

Man Utd 'paid Monaco £3.5million for "ghost friendly" as part of Radamel Falcao transfer' According to the latest Football Leaks, United and the French side compromised over the deal which saw
Man United 'paid £3.5m for ghost friendly as part of Falcao

---

Arsenal have made a bid for young Ituano forward Gabriel Martinelli, according to reports in Brazil. Martinelli, 17, who has scored ten goals in 31 appearances for Sao Paulo-based club Ituano, had
Arsenal 'launch £5m offer for wonderkid Gabriel Martinelli

---

Manchester United are ready to confirm Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their new permanent boss during the upcoming international break, according to reports.The 46-year-old Norwegian has enjoyed a
Man Utd aiming to name Ole Gunnar Solskjaer full-time manager

---

Everton transfer news: Cenk Tosun will NOT be leaving on loan after approach from Crystal Palace is rejected The Turkey international has struggled to find goals in the Premier League and has
Everton transfer news: Cenk Tosun will NOT be leaving on loan
hollywoodadviser.com/everton-transfer-news-cenk-tosun-will-not-be-leaving-on-loan-after-approach-from-crystal-palace-is-rejected/
NO LOAN The Turkey international has struggled to find goals in the Premier League and has fallen out of favour at Goodison Park Everton have rejected an approach by Crystal Palace to sign Cenk Tosun on loan, according to reports.
Everton reject offer for striker Cenk Tosun from Premier

---

Top 10 most valuable brands in football, including Barcelona, Manchester United, and Real Madrid Susan D Benoit May 17, 2019 No Comments It's the world's leading independent brand valuation consultancy and they pride themselves on their independence, transparency, technical credibility, and expertise.
Real Madrid Pass Manchester United as Most Valuable Football

---