A STEWARD at Ewood Park today claimed that he and his colleagues were facing an impossible task in trying to persuade thousands of away fans to sit down.

His comments came after the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed that council chiefs and Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson had written to the Football Licensing Authority (FLA) to complain that "mass standing" in the Darwen End was causing a serious safety risk.

The steward, who did not wish to be named, said it was impossible under the current stewarding and policing set-up to persuade up to 5,000 away supporters to sit down.

He said the only solution would be the deployment of more officers and more "authoritative policing".

The steward said: "When the big clubs like Everton, Man United and Newcastle come to Rovers they bring thousands of fans and you try telling them to sit down!

"It is a bit different when the smaller clubs come because they don't bring as many supporters.

"Stewards are only paid about £17 or £18 on average per game and they are not going to risk the wrath of thousands of fans by telling them to sit down."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's letter to the FLA said that "mass standing by supporters is a very serious risk to safety".

Mrs Anderson said Blackburn prided itself on Rovers and supporters wanted to see Ewood Park as an example of safety.

Both John Newsham, safety officer at Blackburn Rovers and the club's chief executive John Williams declined to comment.

Peter White's big match verdict - see Sport section

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