Express & Star

Fans get pie and pint over row

Wolves today said sorry to fans by offering to buy them a pie and pint for their decision to allocate the Jack Harris Stand to arch rivals West Bromwich Albion for Sunday's FA Cup tie.Wolves today said sorry to fans by offering to buy them a pie and pint for their decision to allocate the Jack Harris Stand to arch rivals West Bromwich Albion for Sunday's FA Cup tie. Have you been affected? What do you think of the offer? Email us, including your name and address, here The club accepted they had failed to communicate properly over plans to move some 3,000 season ticket holders to other areas of the ground. Angry fans had bombarded the Express & Star with letters criticising the decision. In a statement issued today, Wolves said: "The club admits it failed to effectively and sympathetically advise over 3,000 supporters that they would need to relocate for the match and has offered to buy them a pie and a pint to say sorry." Read the full story in the Express & Star

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Have you been affected? What do you think of the offer? Email us, including your name and address, hereFans are furious at being turfed out of their beloved South Bank seats to accommodate more than 5,000 Baggies supporters when the two clubs meet in Sunday's big FA Cup fourth round showdown.

It sparked angry scenes throughout Saturday's Cardiff match which saw supporters accusing the club of "selling out" to Albion while there were also calls for Chief Executive Jez Moxey to stand down.

Wolves today acknowledged that the club had failed to communicate properly the reasons behind the decision - forced on the club by police concerns and FA rules - and offered to buy angry fans a pie and a pint to say sorry.

Moxey said: "Last season we had visiting fans in both Steve Bull and Jack Harris Stands for the Manchester United Cup tie.

"However, the police experienced problems on the day which led to their insisting that they would not allow fans of certain clubs to sit in two stands at future high profile matches.

"We asked West Bromwich Albion officials if they would accept the lower Steve Bull Stand only but, as is their right, they wanted their full allocation of tickets. We, therefore, had no option but to offer them complete use of the Jack Harris Stand (South Bank).

"That said, we should have been far more sympathetic to the situation and handled the communication of this decision to our supporters far more effectively. We should have been sensitive to the disappointment this decision would cause to a large number of loyal season ticket holders, and for that we apologise.

"In recognition of our mistake, on Sunday we would like to buy all fans who have had to relocate a pie and a pint to say sorry."

Wolves hope the apology will take some of the heat out of a controversy which threatens to put a powder keg under an occasion which is sure to be laced with tension.

Albion fans snapped up their 5,300 tickets in just hours of trading yesterday. Wolves put their remaining allocation on general sale on Wednesday.

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