I can tell you why the seats either side of him are empty, this comes from a VERY reliable contact in the club. I wouldn't normally divulge such information to the wider public but I don't want this situation to develop into something bigger than it actually is. My contact is very close but they depend on the football club for the security of their family, I am privy to many of the goings on inside the camp but choose not to publish as I respect my contacts position. This occasion merits a change in tact as I believe I am not putting them at risk as the reason for the empty seats is actually very understandable when you know why. The seats either side of him are for his wife and his son, they couldn't make the game on Saturday so lent their swipe cards to a couple of acquaintances, Nicola made sure that the steward on the gate stopped this errant behaviour of the family and Nicola has confiscated the cards of his wife and son.