Bristol City listen to fans and say 'yes' to safe standing at Ashton Gate or Ashton Vale

Bristol City say they will seek to introduce a safe standing area for fans irrespective of where they end up playing.

The Championship club are pushing ahead with plans to redevelop Ashton Gate while they continue to explore the possibility of a move to nearby Ashton Vale.

No matter which project they eventually decide to adopt, the club says it will listen to the views of supporters, a majority of whom are in favour of safe standing.

Asked to vote in a poll run by The Post this week, 71 per cent of City came out in support of a safe standing area at either Ashton Gate or Ashton Vale.

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Taking the views of supporters on board, City officials insists they will seek to introduce a safe standing pilot scheme if permitted to do so by the authorities.

Bristol Sport chairman Martin Griffiths and City's managing director Jon Lansdown discussed the stadium plans at a meeting with fans at Ashton Gate last night.

Griffiths gave a half-hour presentation to explain the background behind the club's announcement to redevelop Ashton Gate, first revealed on Monday in the Bristol Post.

The Bristol Sport chair and Lansdown then answered supporters' questions about Ashton Gate and Ashton Vale.

Quizzed about safe standing and whether the club could pilot the scheme, Griffiths responded: "Why wouldn't we want to?

"We would like to include safe standing in the redeveloped Ashton Gate or at Ashton Vale, if the authorities allow.

"As we've said before, we are fully supportive of the Football Supporters' Federation's Safe Standing Campaign and subject to a change in legislation, it's something we would push for.

"We know from feedback our supporters they want it, and don't forget rugby supporters would be keen for it too."

Griffiths also revealed the club had been in contact with Ipswich Town FC, who have recently put forward proposals to relax regulations about the drinking of alcohol in sight of a football pitch, whilst the game is underway.

In England, football supporters are unable to consume alcohol on match-days in view of the pitch.

"It's a very old regulation and Ipswich Town have brought something forward to say they'd like to see it changed," said the Bristol Sport chairman.

"We've been discussing this with them because we agree."

Further to that, commercial director Kevin Smith revealed the club had sorted a deal with brewery partner Carlsberg to reduce the price of pints on match-days to £3 for the final five home games of the season.

"It's a common discussion point; if we drop the price, do we sell more? If so, then it's worthwhile commercially, so hopefully fans will support it and we can keep the prices lower for you," he said.