trousers

@jordansibley: On the bench for Saints this evening: Dovey, Dean, Moore, Richardson, Guly, Lambert and Barnard #saintsfc

Would it be worth getting in touch with a few other clubs whose fans have a giant flag at every game? They may have found a way to streamline the 'per match' certificate paperwork with the authorities in their region. Southampton FC might be genuinely under the impression that the paperwork is cumbersome but unaware how other clubs might have overcome this. For example, some clubs may have negotiated a season long certificate with their local authorities - a precident that Saints could them use to go back to our local authorities with. As I say, saints might be genuinely under the impression it's a pain in the arse when in fact it can be overcome.

Adkins isn't on their fans' radar, acording to this poll anyway: http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=77247

Yes, that's what NA said.....doesn't automatically make it reality though....(in the world of conspiracy theories that is....)

Aye. You'd have thought so. We can probably rule that out then.

Interview with Buttersfield now up on Saints Player. Sounds almost certain to start.

Adkins hinting on latest Saints Player interview (uploaded 45 mins ago) that Lallana will be available at the weekend vs Middlesborough: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/20111024/nigel-keen-on-teen-spirit_2264122_2492403 There again, I guess he would say that whether he was likely to be fit or not in order to keep the opposition on their toes

Interviewer: "What sort of player is Ward-Prowse?" Adkins: "He's a footballer" Well, made me chuckle anyway....

Is Mark Long still the head Safety Officer at SMS?

Just doing a Google hunt for any related info that might help to explain the club's position. That said, if it was a "health and safety" issue then why that wasn't established (by the club or otherwise), before the flag was purchased, seems like an obvious faux pas to me. It would appear that the law was changed this year in that all flags need to be made from fire retardent material and certified as such upon purchase.

http://www.flaweb.org.uk/docs/specsafe/flags.php Large Spectator Flags Very large spectator flags being unveiled and then passed over the heads of spectators from one end of a stand to the other create something of a spectacle and keep spectators "entertained" prior to a match. However, the practice does raise some safety issues which need to be balanced against the entertainment provided. The FLA is aware that the use of such flags is banned at some clubs, whereas at others their use is not only approved but the club also provides storage for what in some cases can be an extremely large flag. The FLA considers the question of whether or not to allow the use of such flags is best determined locally in discussion between the club, the certifying authority, the police and the emergency services within the forum of the Safety Advisory Group. This will enable all relevant local circumstances including the design of the stadium, the size, fabric and intended use of the flag and any other safety or public order considerations to be taken into account.

http://www.wsc.co.uk/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,73/func,view/catid,27/id,566825/

http://www.onlinegooner.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5207&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=f286f81437f084f820e1a38d2717dc64 The following conversation has been taken from RedAction website. This was them requesting a large flag for use at Highbury and shows how incredibly resistant the club were towards the idea Resistance to Giant Flags RA: “The Kop have a giant flag they use before every game. Can we have a giant flag before kick off?” AFC: “No” RA: “Why not?” AFC: “Erm…..because of Health & Safety” RA: “So did Islington council say than then?” AFC: “Yeah! That’s right! Islington said we can’t have giant flags!” RA: “Right!” (next day) RA: Hi is that Islington council? I’m calling from an Arsenal supporters group. We just wanted to know if you had any Health & Safety objections if we brought in giant flags for matches” IC: “Giant flags? Not at all! Why would that be a Health & Safety issue? Other football team do it, don’t they?” RA: “That’s what we thought. Thank you very much!” (next day) RA: “We spoke to Islington council yesterday and they say they have no objections to us using big flags. So can we use a Rocastle flag or maybe the ‘We Are The Arsenal’ flag in the North bank or Clock End?” AFC: “Oh. Erm……no!” RA: “Why not?” AFC: “Because……we don’t want fans to complain of having their sight restricted by a big flag. They pay for their seats so they’re entitled to a proper view” RA: “We’re not talking about flags over people’s heads for two hours. We’re talking about for thirty seconds as the players walk out so they can see the visual impact. This would look quality as it does on the continent or at Anfield!” AFC: “We can’t allow it. The fans would object as they would feel dizzy and claustrophobic and we’d end up getting sued” RA: “……You’re joking, right?” AFC: “No. What if someone had a panic attack? We’d have to have every fan in the stand sign a disclaimer”

Mankind was put on the planet to ultimately destroy it. We're simply doing what nature (or God) intended. Fact. IMHO of course. There's plenty of other planets, universes and species out there so no need to fret about the small inconsequential species they call the human race.

Providing balance is now akin to trolling? Welcome to the surreal world of the Saintsweb Forum ;-)

Let's not forget that there will always be someone to bite on Dunes bait.... ;-)

Andy - just an observation but you seem to be on a crusade to bite on every piece of bait that Dune sets down for you. As I say, just an observation.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/06/mps-expenses-margaret-moran-21-charges

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12157768

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4945170.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1823120.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/dec/08/uk.australia

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1386262/Alastair-Campbell-did-mislead-Iraq-inquiry-claims-general.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/3130348/The-scandals-that-brought-Peter-Mandelson-down-twice-before.html

http://www.labour-watch.com/sleaze.htm