By Alex Miller For The Mail On Sunday
- Liverpool looking at ways to fill 1,000 seats that remain empty at Anfield
- The Reds have a plan to give ticket holders' seats away if they arrive late
- Officials admit many logistics must be considered before it is implemented
- Ian Ayre: 'Any trial will be initially restricted to approx. 150 local fans'
Published: 22:28, 13 February 2016 | Updated: 02:25, 14 February 2016
Liverpool risk upsetting their fans again with an initiative that could see ticket holders' seats given away if they arrive late to matches at Anfield from next season.
It is understood the club are looking at ways to fill an average of 1,000 seats that remain empty during home games - many of them held by season-ticket holders who do not attend.
Club officials are looking to determine the feasibility of inviting a number of pre-registered fans to turn up on match days and be escorted into the ground after a certain amount of time to use empty seats free of charge.
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Reds risk upsetting fans again with a plan that could see ticket holders' seats given away if they arrive late
Liverpool officials admit there are a number of logistics to consider before a plan can be implemented, such as what to do if the fan actually turns up after their seat has been occupied by one of the 'lucky' fans.
While the initiative has been welcomed by supporters' groups, the club knows it risks upsetting ticket holders who arrive late for genuine reasons only to discover their seats have been given away.
Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre told a recent supporters' committee meeting: 'Any trial will be initially restricted to approximately 150 local fans. This will ensure that any problems can be ironed out first before a full roll-out once the trial has proved successful.
'This will be supported by informing fans of the plan and for them to be aware that, if they arrive late, their seat may have been given away to a local fan.
'The club would also request that if the registered ticket holder is not planning to attend they should advise the club in advance so their ticket can be redistributed to a local fan who could then take up a seat prior to kick-off.'
Expect a lot of angry Red Mums shopping for new bedding at TJ's in the next few weeks, as there 50 year old virgin live at home sons will be daubing their sheets with natty slogans bemoaning the latest injustice to hit the little scamps
Another barnstorming PR disaster-in-waiting with that shambles of an idea. Ian Ayre will be making these next for the Cult members thinking hes tuned into their zeitgeist........Praise the Lord
