Ken Tone

Even more confused now! This sounds as if they're putting away fans in the Chapel, when they said before they'd be putting them in the family stand area of the Kingsland, next to the Chapel.

Yes... and i think the club can decide whether to fold each seat up or down, so maybe the plan is to install all the Northam but to leave some as seats for part of the time, ie so there is some sitting available for away fans? (That's assuming the rather ambiguous announcement does mean they're being kept there for now.) I would have thought that would be a requirement? Then maybe return to the idea of moving the away fans later?

Anybody know what this means? What away end? Are they just putting in safe standing where people are now?

Jo Tessem seemed to think the booing etc distracted the players. They must have wondered what the ''you're getting sacked in the morning" and "you don't know what you're doing" chants were about, but even so, I can't see it really bothering them?

Anybody heard any update on this plan? Was speaking to an ex-copper in one of the sections scheduled to become for away fans who's still convinced the police will veto it. But surely the club would have cleared with all the relevant authorities before going public? There's a lot of unhappy fans at our end of the Kingsland --- many of them ST holders who are wondering what we're supposed to do next season.

Stephens is a reasonable CB at this level, but RM really needs to decide who our best 2 CBs are and just play them. Personally I'd go with JB and THB but not my choice. IMO though he can't keep playing all 3 with THB forced out to right back. Stephens tends to go marauding forward, so that THB has to come in off the wing to cover. That means we have no overlapping full back on the right wing ... a huge loss compared to when we have KWP or even Bree playing.

Echo traffic news website just now is showing marine parade past the ground is shut still. Will affect routes to car parking etc, especially if Chapel Road shut as usual before match. So will have to allow extra time .

I see the club message says they expect the usual road closures tomorrow. I presume that means only the usual? Anyone know if the road past the stadium (and therefore past the fire) is open normally yet?

Will be smoke particles dropping on to the pitch and seats anyway I expect, even if no actual heat damage.

Maybe get a better deal if you wait for the fire sale? 😉

Anyone know if saints have had to evacuate offices and ticket office? Would be a big indicator of likelihood of game being postponed.

Nothing apart from upsetting those of us who currently sit in the Kingsland/Chapel corner!

And for cup games with a big away allocation , will they move home fans out of block 29? I also sit in 29. Am really pissed off!

This plan will disrupt *all* the family stand, plus several blocks of the Kingsland ... both the ones that will actually be used by away fans and those occupied by old codgers like me who will find ourselves right next to away fans , and will therefore want to move elsewhere, losing contact with other ST holders I've sat near for years. Similarly quite a few Chapel ST holders will be unhappy to be next to the abuse of away fans. Then there will be further disruption for fans moving in/out of Northam and Itchen North. In effect maybe a third (?) of fans will be moving. Also many of us will have to find new routes to/from the ground. St Mary's was obviously built with the expectation that the Chapel would be the main home end. Why can't the safe standing be introduced there? Again some fans would need to move , but not as many, and the away fans could stay where they are.

Thanks. Should have said Manning!