Newcastle United will be given the chance to trial safe-standing at St James’ Park in 2022.
All Premier League and Championship clubs will be allowed to take part in the pilot scheme, and must submit an application before October 6th.
If the application is accepted, clubs will be allowed a safe-standing area in their stadium from January 1st.
Standing inside stadiums in the top two tiers has been banned for more than 25 years, after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 led to the death of 97 Liverpool supporters.
However, all could be about to change. Safe-standing is done to great effect in the Bundesliga, while Celtic also have a designated area for standing.
But will we see similar measures at St James’ Park? Some Toon fans think not, for one reason and one reason only – Mike Ashley.
The Newcastle owner has rarely been one to splash the cash, whether it’s on players or club facilities.
St James’ Park has been run down, although it did get a lick of paint back in 2019…
Elsewhere, the training ground has been left unchanged, which was a big bone of contention during Rafa Benitez’s tenure.
Ashley was reluctant to spend this summer as well, with Joe Willock the only senior arrival.
While safe-standing might help improve the atmosphere inside St James’ Park, Toon fans don’t expect to see it anytime soon.
Some Newcastle fans don’t expect Ashley to fork out for safe-standing pilot
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