"END AWAY FAN BAN" - WOLVO COUNCIL LEADER

22-01-2007

The leader of Wolverhampton Council has told the Stirrer he hopes there'll be no repeat of the away fan ban which saw Cardiff supporters barred from Molineux on Saturday.

“Photos © Football Supporters' Federation www.fsf.org.uk. photographer Timm Sonnenschein www.timsonnenschein.com “

Roger Lawrence said he understood why Wolves and the police had taken the decision and refused to criticise it; but he admitted that watching a match without followers of the opposing team being present was “very strange”.

A protest meeting in the centre of Wolverhampton attracted more than 150 demonstrators on Saturday, and Lawrence - who met a small delegation afterwards - was full of praise for those who took part.

He said: “It was very well organised, and they obviously respected the views of the police.”

But as for repeating the ban next time Cardiff are in town, he added: “It's not something you want to see very often and I hope we can avoid it next year.

For one thing, the commercial life of the city was hard hit, with licensees agreeing to “voluntarily” remain shut until after kick off.

“A lot of people lost money” Lawrence said. “Pubs, cafes and restaurants in Wolverhampton and beyond were closed and that's not something we want to see again either.