Wolves fans taking a stand as stadium seats go

Wolves were today demolishing the Stan Cullis Stand ahead of its £16 million rebuild — hours after fans mucked in by ripping up their seats as mementos.

Construction crews were moving in to Molineux this morning to start knocking down the single tier stand and build its two-tier, 7,700-seater replacement.

The development will boost the ground's capacity from 29,408 to 31,700 and marks the beginning of a four-year £40m project, which could eventually see capacity increase to 50,000.

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Supporters who had been on the edge of their seats for yesterday's Survival Sunday drama celebrated their team's relegation escape by taking them home as souvenirs.

Midfielder Jamie O'Hara celebrated the club's survival by planting a kiss on his pregnant fiancee Danielle Lloyd, who came down to the side of the pitch from the Billy Wright Stand with the couple's 10-month-old son Archie dressed in a Wolves strip.

Meanwhile dozens of supporters in the Stan Cullis Stand kicked and pulled at the backs of seats, while others came armed with screwdrivers to carefully dismantle them.

Although Wolves had officially discouraged fans from damaging the stand, bosses appear to have turned a blind eye amid the jubilant scenes.

A machine to travel along the rows of the 5,200-capacity stand was expected to be deployed today to rip up the seats.

It follows the removal of the iconic statue of Wolves legend Stan Cullis last month, which has been put into storage along with the famous clock which adorned the tip of the stand. Both will feature in the new structure.

Speaking about the ambitious plans, club owner Steve Morgan has said: "The aim is to drive the club forward at all levels and to ensure we put our team in the best possible position to compete at the highest level.

"To do that we need the best possible facilities at Molineux. This is a brave and decisive leap forward, but one which will open up an exciting and historic new chapter for the benefit of everyone connected to this wonderful football club and city."

Away fans will eventually be housed in a new seating area in the corner between the Stan Cullis and Steve Bull stands.

Last week it emerged the front of the new stand will be less than 20ft from the pitch — an estimated 40ft closer than the current stand.

The first tier of the new stand will be ready to seat an estimated 3,000 fans in uncovered areas by the middle of September, with the replacement up and in use in time for the 2012/13 season.

The initial step will cost £16m and will also include a new museum, shop, kiosks, bars, and dining rooms. Phase two of the development would see the Steve Bull Stand demolished and rebuilt.

The new stand would adjoin the Stan Cullis Stand, with the gap between the north and east stands filled in during phase one. This would boost capacity to 36,000.

Phase three, which would involve ripping off the roof of the Jack Harris Stand and installing a second tier, would add another 1,000-plus seats to what is fondly known as the South Bank. In the first phase of redevelopment stadium capacity will fall to 23,995.

Fans in the Stan Cullis Stand and some in the Jack Harris stand will be forced to relocate next season.

Away fans will be placed in the Jack Harris flank while the Stan Cullis is being redeveloped.

It means new seats will have to be found elsewhere in the ground for all fans who normally sit in the Jack Harris Stand, as well as more than 5,000 supporters from the Stan Cullis. All work should be completed by the 2014/15 season, with an option to increase capacity to 50,000 to be considered at that stage.

About 100 West Midlands construction jobs will be created over the course of the scheme. Wolves will also take on 50 extra staff, boosting the club's payroll to 350 employees.

The number of workers selling matchday refreshments, programmes and merchandise around the ground is expected to rise from 500 to 800 when all three phases are completed.