Wolves' standing fans handed a final warning

A reduction in the Molineux capacity enforced by Wolverhampton City Council is "inevitable" if fans continue to stand up during games, Wolves warned today.

The council will force the club to reduce the 5,345-capacity Jack Harris Stand by at least 500 seats if fans refuse a "last chance" offer to prove they can stay seated at matches.

Council officers have written to the club asking it to draw up a strategy for withdrawing seats from use, claiming the problem has not been resolved despite repeated requests.

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey said: "This is going to be a huge problem for those fans affected but no-one is going to be able to say: 'It's not fair, you didn't tell us.' Many clubs have forced reductions — now it is about to come to the Jack Harris Stand unless something is done quickly.

"It's now up to the fans themselves to decide, there's nothing more we can do. This is the last chance. Persistent standing has to stop from this point onwards. We aren't going to be able to change Government policy or that of the football licensing authority on the issue of safe standing.

"It's not that we don't want to fight and we will continue to make strong recommendations to the Safety Advisory Group. But Wolves won't be able to stop reductions in capacity if they are imposed. The precedent has been set elsewhere."

A capacity cut would be on top of the reduction resulting from redevelopment of the Stan Cullis Stand, scheduled to begin at the end of the season. Aisle seat restrictions are already in place in Molineux's away fans section to tackle the problem, meaning Wolves cannot reach the ground's current official capacity of 29,195.

The club wrote to fans in August warning that persistent standing must stop.

as well as running a poster campaign and warning crowds with a series of PA announcements during games.

Several fans have been ejected from the stadium for persistent standing in recent months and the club has attempted to raise awareness of possible sanctions using Facebook and Twitter campaigns.

But some fans feel standing up is crucial to creating an intimidating atmosphere for visiting sides. Several national campaigns calling for 'safe standing' sections at the country's football grounds have gathered backing from tens of thousands of supporters.

Steve Bishop, secretary of fans group Cannock Wolves who has a season ticket in the Billy Wright Stand, said: "You have to wonder why the council doesn't have more important things to look at.

"The stewards are doing what they can to stop the problem and that should be enough. I don't think it's as big a problem as they say."