Safe standing at Premier League grounds moves closer after club’s take first steps towards sanctioning plans

PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have today agreed to hold further talks on the possibility of introducing safe standing areas at top-flight grounds.

A meeting of club chiefs took place on Thursday in a meeting described as the “first step towards safe standing”.

West Ham co-owner David Gold went on to describe the talks as “cautious and complex”.

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The Premier League’s director of communications, Dan Johnson, said there had been a "softening" on the topic of standing.

He cited Celtic's 3,000 'rail seats' at Parkhead as an example safe standing was working.

Johnson said: "Maybe at some clubs it might be how do we create an atmosphere and maintain it.

"But I think a lot of it is to do with listening to their fans and hearing they're interested in looking at it.”

Clubs in the top divisions must have all-seater stadiums since terracing was outlawed in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.

And although many supporters are in favour of bringing it back, not all clubs are in favour of re-introducing standing sections.

Everton have already confirmed that they are “not considering” it.

Johnson added: "It is very early stages. It's a very emotive subject still. We're acutely aware of that.

"A number of our clubs do want to discuss it so it's on the agenda.

"We will discuss that but beyond that the only thing I can see happening at these early stages is a scoping exercise, talking to interested stakeholders - including fans' groups and Hillsborough families, but also talking with the government because the legislation is still in place for all-seater stadiums.

"I know it will create discussion but it's a long road and it might not necessarily lead to the introduction of safe standing."