The much-criticised wall that currently separates home fans from away supporters in the London Olympic Stadium's West Stand Lower Tier is to be replaced, it has been confirmed.
The wall, which appeared almost overnight a couple of seasons ago following crowd trouble at one of West Ham United's European ties will be levelled this summer, according to the most recent minutes from the meeting between the club - who were represented by the likes of Vice Chair Karren Brady and Director of Ticketing Nicola Keye - and the FAB (Fan Advisory Board).Yet while the club have agreed to rip down the offending structure, it is to be replaced by a clear, 'Perspex' solution at the end of the current season.
"The club said that it accepted that supporters wanted the wall to come down, that the club had listened and that it was willing to pay for the wall to be replaced with a Perspex-style wall to be installed during the close season," read the minutes.
"It noted that completion was subject to other stakeholders such as London Stadium and the SSAG agreeing to it, and that the Perspex-style wall may still need to be recovered based on a risk assessment, for example if the number of missiles or other incidents in the area increased again."
Additionally, it was revealed that the club are set to hire a Director of Football once more. While the January transfer window saw Chair David Sullivan assume the reigns, a hired hand will be introduced - again, this summer - to lead and drive the club's recruitment policy.
"The club explained that it was currently operating without a Director of Football as part of the governance structure," stated the minutes, adding: "but is planning on a return to this model."
Meanwhile it was also confirmed that some season ticket prices will almost certainly rise this summer, with those lower-prices tickets likely to be most affected.
"While the suggested amount of increase was agreed to be commercially sensitive," it was noted, "the club noted that this could be along the lines of a rise in price for the very lowest priced season tickets and then an annual inflationary increase."
To read the minutes in full, visit the FAB's website. To have your say, visit the FAB thread on the KUMB Forum.
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