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Davids steer away from ‘standing’ confrontation

goldsullivanpngThe Irons joint chairman have released a 1,139 word statement covering the issues that has seen the morale around the club dip over the opening weeks of the season.

But unlike previous website statements and e mails, they have steered away from the often confrontational stance that’s been adopted.

Instead of making a meal out of the standing issue they talk about the “need for likeminded supported to be more appropriately grouped.”

The statement- issued on the offiial site – says: :“It is clear there are three key areas of frustration off the pitch: The quality of the stewarding, the segregation between home and away supporters and the need for likeminded supportes to be more appropriately grouped. We have read reports talking of old and new fans – we can tell you this is simply not the case.”

They admit the migration policy wasn’t entirely successful admitting: “It’s clear the migration process to a large extent did successfully group clear pockets of likeminded fans.

“However, finding the perfect place for 57,000 supporters first time is not easy and the board accept there has been a need to relocate some supporters to the areas where they can have the best experience for the good of everyone in the ground.”

The club have already relocated 250 season ticket holders and this process is ongoing.

Whichever side of the fence you stand or sit on the standing issue this is a victory for common sense.

 

 

About Sean Whetstone

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball, I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh. Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons! Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter

10 comments on “Davids steer away from ‘standing’ confrontation

  1. How do we apply to be re-grouped?

    • To change seats I think you contact the club, Claret, so that probably means making an expensive phone call, or visit the box office (and brave the long queue), or write to them. BUT I suspect they will be very amenable (don’t quote me!). A friend asked to be moved out of the East Stand Lower, and got fantastic seats in the Upper.
      There is a brilliant unofficial site as mentioned by Claret + Hugh, but that page seems to have disappeared (I might be wrong), so maybe officially it is frowned on. Anyway, if you Google ‘coyi seat exchange’ you should find it.
      If you really want to move seats, you should succeed…

  2. This article is exactly what is wrong with the new seating arrangements
    A) West Ham do not own the stadium the owners knew that years ago when they signed the lease & also the terms of the lease stated ” standing is for forbidden ” this should have been pointed out to all fans when they applied for a season ticket & again when they were asked to pay for it
    B) the two directors do not help by making stupid comments about how they understand some fans like to stand, this has & will continue to inflame the situation by giving hope to the fans who want to stand.
    C) the owners should hold their hands up & admit they are at fault but must now tow the line & ensure everybody follows the rules & sits down. Otherwise this will rumble on all season & they can kiss goodbye to any increase in the capacity also lots of families will not renew their tickets next year.

  3. Lets keep slagging off our owners till they get ****ed off and sell us. Al they’ve done is pump dough in. Unfortunately things take time to work theirselves out now and then. Have patience Fellas.

  4. Claret I strongly disagree. Every premiership ground has areas where fans stand. Even though premier league rules forbid it. I think this statement is spot on. I like to sit myself but I think the standers add to the atmosphere of the game.

  5. I think the club messed up in the 1st place, but believe that bit by bit, it will sort the issues, and it will all just become old news.
    There are some issues that I don’t like (the expensive phone lines, instances of lack of respect to former players etc), but overall, personally I am massively grateful to the 2 Daves, and support Karren. I know many object to DG’s tweets, but I love them; they are so funny and on the money. I think he’s a master of Twitter.
    I just hope Bilic can turn round our current form…I think he can; I’m not with the knee-jerk sack club, but must admit that I have found some of his basic decision-making worrying. In interviews he also looks tired/on the rack (IMO).
    It is exactly our situation now that will tell the tale: if he really is a great manager, he’ll turn it round (providing he also gets a break with injuries), if he isn’t up to it, then he won’t. It is actually a great opportunity to prove himself, and I believe he will…

  6. And I believe we will finish up with unofficial standing areas…(The owners will turn a blind eye like in all other football grounds), the stewarding will be improved where it needs it, away fans will be more segregated and held back after the game….and there will be more of a Police presence according to the type of match….It won’t be easy with Spurs games etc as there is so much open space for fans to get stuck in, but, again, it will be a learning process….

  7. Standing has not been allowed since after stadiums became all seaters.There is more atmosphere when you have singing, but I’ve tried and your voice works even when sat down.It will sort itself out,and perhaps next year we can lose some fair weather, over expectant,over bearing “fans” . COYI

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