Shropshire Star

EFL chief backs Shrewsbury Town's safe-standing bid

The English Football League (EFL) has backed Shrewsbury Town's bid to introduce safe-standing at the new Meadow.

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The league revealed that standing was one of the aspects discussed at the recent summer conference.

EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey labelled Town's bid an important step and wished them luck in raising the required funds and getting the plans passed.

He also described the 3,000 rail seating area at Celtic Park as a success.

Harvey said: “This is an important step on the journey towards our stated aim of seeing standing in stadiums across the EFL and I wish Shrewsbury Town every success in reaching their crowdfunding target to support their application.

“The installation of standing accommodation will be popular with the club’s fans and, more widely, will prove a valuable opportunity to assess the use of this form of accommodation at an English football ground.

“At present, 21 of our clubs will operate with standing accommodation. This includes clubs in all three divisions of our competition this season, including Brentford and Burton Albion in the Sky Bet Championship, while other clubs in the same divisions are prohibited from doing so. All the standing areas, including those that have been removed after the transition arrangements, were all recognised as safe and it’s now time to re-consider with the Government whether the current approach needs to be reviewed.

“We are aware that the Government is currently monitoring the installation of 3,000 rail seats at Celtic Park - which the EFL has been to view – and have been seen as a success last season.

“We have had a clear mandate from our clubs to pursue change in this area since 2014 and continue to lobby for changes to the all-seater policy so that all our clubs can have the flexibility to offer any safe form of accommodation, including standing, to their supporters regardless of the division they play in.

“EFL clubs want the ability to offer fans a choice of their match day experience - whether that be seated or standing on terraces - in stadiums that are safe."

Town's crowd funding money raiser will be live once plans are passed by Shropshire Council's safety advisory group and the government.

Artificial pitches, accessibility, broadcast facilities and the ability to consume alcohol in view of the pitch were also discussed at the recent conference.