Fans urge FA to intervene in seat row

The Football Supporters Association have urged the new Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier to intervene quickly in the row between Newcastle fans and their club.

The Football Supporters Association have urged the new Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier to intervene quickly in the row between Newcastle fans and their club.

Newcastle supporters were left in uproar after the club announced plans to re-seat 4000 fans as part of the restructuring of the Milburn and Sir John Hall stands at St James' Park.

The Newcastle board have raised prices from the current level of between £380 and £490 to over £1350 as they re-designate the 4000 seats as corporate hospitality areas.

The affected supporters were then given the option of paying price increases of 171% or relocation to inferior seats.

The FSA are now accusing the Newcastle board of reneging on an agreement to those fans who bought bonds that their seat would be safe for at least 10 years - an act which, the FSA claim, brings the game into disrepute.

Club officials have announced that they will meet those supporters who are being forced to choose a different seat.

But now FSA chairman Alison Pilling wants Crozier's first role to be the firm enforcement of FA rules.

"Mr Crozier is, by repute, a great communicator, which is very welcome. We are anxious to see if he is also a man of action," Pilling said.

"The FA have been very clear over recent months that they are in the process of great reform, and that Mr Crozier's appointment is evidence of that.

"Although Mr Crozier is not officially in post until January, it would be of great benefit to both the FA's and Mr Crozier's standing with the fans, if current rules regarding disrepute were enforced at Newcastle and a message of support sent to the fans there immediately. We urge him to act now."