Molineux's headaches over fans who persistently stand up in the Jack Harris Stand were given a full airing at last night's Wolves Fans' Parliament meeting.

Following headline coverage in the Express & Star and on local radio earlier in the day, members were reminded of the serious threat the club face in having seats taken out as a result.

Parliament chairman Matt Grayson pointed out that every Jack Harris Stand season ticket holder above the age of 12 was receiving a letter this week about the problem, Wolverhampton Council having written to the club over the summer to urge action in line with the similar headaches regarding away fans in the lower tier of the Steve Bull Stand.

The council's letter, signed by Dan O'Brien, who has been on the safety advisory group for many years, prompted a lengthy debate as to what Wolves should do next after the failed efforts they have made through posters, leaflet drops and pieces in the programme.

Gerry Collins said he had been taken aback by the ferocity of the message boards on which fans had written that, by sticking together, they wouldn't be punished. "I had to stand up most of the game at Blackburn last Saturday and I was on the back row," he said. And Matt Grayson pointed out: "And that at a ground where our fans were up in the Gods."

Chief executive Jez Moxey said: "Unless supporters heed the warning, they will force us to reduce the capacity by an amount that could run into hundreds. If we have to turn people away because of a breach of ground regulations, it's disastrous. If it's not solved, it will be detrimental to the team we're all here to support. During exciting passages of play, it's understandable if people stand up, but not all the time. This is a final plea by us but it has to be self-regulation."

The club may film crowd behaviour in an effort to identify the main offenders - those who stand up near the front and cause others behind them to secure a view.

Matt Grayson said: "Retrospective sanctions could be put in place. You don't want confrontational incidents on a match day but you might find the person next to you isn't there at the next game."

To a question by James Fielden about what other clubs have done, Jez said Charlton had been forced to reduce their visitors' section several years ago and were aggrieved at being penalised for the poor conduct of away fans.

Tony Shilcock suggested that Wolves should write to monitored individuals, mindful as he was that season ticket holders sometimes passed their tickets on to friends.

Jon Maslen-Jones asked whether it was a safety issue or a financial matter. "I struggle to see how it's such a big safety issue," he said. "I go to every England game and last week (v Croatia) was the best atmosphere with everyone standing."

Jez replied that the only way the safety advisory group would see the area as safe, if people are standing, is if seats were taken out and more space created. "I can do no more than put my neck on the block, be the bad guy and appeal so hundreds of fans aren't precluded from attending matches in the future due to loss of seats," he said. "We didn't want to hit fans with this matter from the first game when we were concentrating on developing a terrific atmosphere for the start of the season but the problem has got worse. The crowd stood up at the West Ham and Hull games for virtually the whole time."

Mike Taylor was told that the club were in daily dialogue with the local authority and all previous measures had failed. And when Muriel Bates asked whether the council could suspend a safety certificate, Jez replied: "Yes, ultimately."

She added: "I'm small and it's a lot of wasted money if people stand up in front of you. You ask them to sit down and get verbal abuse."

Dave Bissell urged: "Kick them out, especially if they are on camera. You have the evidence. Do this to one or two and others might take notice. Until there's a deterrent…..

Roger Fellows enquired whether there had been any accidents since the stadium became all-seater and said the whole health and safety issue was getting ridiculous. Jez said: "Nothing serious, just stumbles and slips."

Roger agreed when Terry Brearley said: "I was behind a self-appointed cheerleader at Manchester City recently and the guys around me weren't happy. Some examples have to be made."

Anne Pearce suggested following the referees' system - a yellow card, red card and then a three-match ban for offenders and, if they do it again, the removal of season tickets.

Peter Bagley suggested a PA announcement should be made by Steve Morgan while Gerry Collins said the fans may listen more to Steve Bull than someone in authority at Molineux. Matt Grayson said the club would consider a pre-recorded message by Bully if the problem didn't ease.

FOOTBALL MATTERS

Jez said he still felt completely drained from 'our busiest summer.' Looking back on the transfer window, he said four or five players in addition to those signed were pursued actively but fell through while the club renegotiated five player contracts and moved out a handful of others. "We can sit back and take a deep breath because we did exactly what the football management wanted and we can be pleased with where we ended up," he said. "We've had significant injuries and they have been a real worry but Mick was pleased with the first four games but not very pleased at Blackburn where we were very unWolves-like. But I remain optimistic."

When Richard Harries asked how Ronald Zubar's English was, Jez said: "Okay, improving." About his failure to break into the side yet, Matt Grayson pointed out that the defender's wife had just had a baby in France at a time when he was striving anyway to acclimatise to a League completely different from what he was used to. Robert Anslow said it underlined what the club had stated in the past - that it takes time for foreign players to adjust.

Anne Pearce asked about the chances of Chelsea recalling Michael Mancienne and was told by Jez that it could happen in January, although everyone was in the dark about the repercussions of the signing ban imposed on Stamford Bridge.

When John Meaney said he was surprised Wolves were prepared to loan out Sam Vokes, Jez added: "Don't forget he came from Bournemouth and hasn't started many games, although he has come on and scored important goals. Something will probably happen with him in the next week."

James Rogers said members would be able to give the club more feedback about the squad's strength at the next meeting because fans had hardly seen some of the summer signings so far.

Richard Harries asked whether it was wise that the club had publicly pledged to target players with Premier League experience and therefore raised expectations. And he asked whether that was still the policy.

Jez said: "We realised it would be very difficult signing those players without ruining a few of our principles - and people here deserved their chance to play in the Premier. We didn't want to pay over the top just for experience but I think we have a good compromise."

Wilf Hadley asked whether it was only for financial reasons that certain signings were missed out on and was told by the chief exec: "Everyone sees the promoted clubs as favourites for relegation and many players think they are above that. We have to get established and be above that and that's a tough road."

To a question from Chris Cox about where Wolves would finish based on a league table of wages paid, Jez said: "We'd survive. You have to spend enough to give yourselves a fair chance of survival."

Kulbinder Kular reassured club officials that sensible fans knew the buying policy was the right one and added: "Thank-you to Sir Jack for how he structured the deal to pass the club on. Without him doing what he did, we wouldn't be in the position we are now. Jez said: "Sir Jack will always be held in the very highest regard. He's untouchable for me. Steve (Morgan) has been the perfect successor to him."

Mike Taylor asked what the policy was with the reserves' league. Jez replied: "The jury is still out. There was a lot of debate but we felt we were in a league which has a reserve league, so perhaps we should try it for a season at least. We've jumped back on the other side of the fence but it will be reviewed at the end of the season."

John Pike asked if more reserve games could be played at Molineux as Telford in January was less appealing.

Chris Cox said he felt that reducing the size of the Molineux pitch had not helped Wolves yet - a point Jez answered by saying: "We are the underdogs with a young team and Mick thought reducing the pitch within the rules gave us our best chance, as Stoke did."

TICKETING

Kulbinder Kular said he was flabbergasted Manchester United were charging Wolves fans £41 for next Wednesday's Carling Cup tie. He said there were 15 fans in his family and none were going to Old Trafford. Jez reminded the meeting that it was the home club who set the prices, which were decided in this case before the game was chosen for TV. "They think they'll get 60,000 odd to the game at those prices," he added, pointing out the proceeds were split 50-50 after expenses and the Football League's split.

The club's Head of Ticketing and Membership Lynne O'Reardon said sales so far were good at United but not at Wolves.

Tony Shilcock pointed out that the prices were £10 and £5 for the Arsenal v Albion tie in the same week while Chris Cox asked what round the club had budgeted on reaching. Jez said: "We plan for one home tie and one away, so it's fair to say we'll beat our cup budget this season before we even get to the FA Cup.

Terry Brearley felt the club should be congratulated on their pricing given the criticism of that at United and at Birmingham for last weekend's derby against Aston Villa. Matt Grayson pointed out that the first of the family ticket days (v Fulham on Sunday) had proved successful, with all seats under the offer sold.

Lynne agreed with Richard Harries' suggestion that the club could look again at the possibility of gift vouchers being used against the price of season tickets or match tickets, although she said the idea had been tried before without great success. She said purchasers would have to realise they had to redeem vouchers in the same season.

To a query by Wilf Hadley on upgrading from tickets bought for the family enclosure, Lynne said the club didn't ever want to reach a situation where that area of the ground looked full of adults.

And she told Kulbinder Kular that the buy-back scheme, based on the club purchasing an unused ticket for a game from a season ticket holder at 50 per cent cost given adequate notice, was a fair one, although fans had to realise that it was sensible business practice for Wolves to first sell empty seats at full value. Jez said: "We've spent a five-figure sum on the software for this and hope fans realise it means we're giving more people an opportunity to watch a game."

Jon Maslen-Jones asked why Sunday's game was kicking off at 2pm, when, he said, it would cause clashes with boys' fixtures being played at lunchtime. Jez said the earlier start was opted for as it might reduced problems with fans travelling home on public transport. Chris Cox said public transport was difficult anyway on Sunday and that families were more geared to 3pm kick-offs.

Matt Grayson announced that fans in the family enclosure and Steve Bull Stand Lower would exit the stadium by a different route on Sunday as an evacuation exercise aimed at seeing how quickly Molineux could be emptied in emergency now the electronic LED advertising screen is in place at the Lower Steve Bull side of the pitch.

Peter Bagley asked if there had been any complaints about the LED board because he found it very bright at the Swindon game. Jez replied, "It's a huge investment so I made a big fuss to ensure it was bright enough," he said. "But the brightness can be adjusted."

Mike Taylor said a fan had asked him why it had cost £7 to use Car Park A at the Swindon cup match when admission to the game had cost only £10. Also, he added, people had been boxed in. Lynne O'Reardon acknowledged that space was tight but said a new steward was on duty who would this weekend be assisted by last season's steward to avoid any repeat. Jez said that just because Wolves reduced the match ticket, they didn't feel compelled to lower other charges around the stadium.

Richard Harries asked why more information of Academy matches, with regard to player statistics and team line-ups couldn't be given in the club's media outlets and was told by Jez: "I don't want to sound paranoid but we would rather keep it below the radar than feed predator clubs. Making it more difficult to see how many times a player has started or scored isn't necessarily a bad thing."

James Fielden enquired as to what percentage of fans used the online ticket sales facility because it was so much easier. Lynne said: "It is getting higher but we urge fans to get their password well before actually trying to buy for a ticket." And she said transport to away games might be sold through the Internet in the future. Jez said: "We have exciting plans but it's also daunting because we're reliant on suppliers who aren't always as quick as we are."

Chris Cox said he subscribed to the Wolves Player part of the club's official website and didn't yet think it was giving value for money as it wasn't always working properly. Matt replied: "It's run by a third party but I'm on it most days and we're very pleased with it. The archive section is still being transferred over from a previous supplier." Matt also apologised for the fact that commentary of the first ten minutes of Albion's game was played on Wolves World last weekend and said Beacon were responsible for that. "We were on to it straightaway. Beacon know it wasn't good enough. They are taking steps to ensure it doesn't happen gain," he replied. "We were gutted about it - Blackburn was a bad day at the office all round."

OTHER BUSINESS

Alan Gripton said an 82-year-old Wolves fanatic he knew was upset that his pass for using the lift from the foyer to the top of the Billy Wright Stand was being withdrawn next season. Jez answered: "We put our arm round people and it gets us into trouble. In the litigious world we are in, we have to make sure we don't get into problems. We've taken the decision and given everyone a year's notice - and I don't think we will reverse it." Matt said: "If you have a thousand or 1,500 people behind an infirm person going down the steps, that's a potential safety hazard. Lynne's team are working on a one-to-one basis to relocate these people." Lynne said that more than 100 people were using a small passenger lift and that was 'quite impractical.' She said the stairs in the Steve Bull Stand, for example, were much less challenging.

Anne Pearce said she'd had 24 emails in less than three weeks about a disabled man who has been a fan since the 1940s who had lost his free car parking space after 16 years. Lynne O'Reardon was familiar with the case and explained: "There are 46 spaces right outside the disabled gate and we have 104 applicants. We don't ballot, we go through a thoughtful process that is given a lot of care. We have to weigh up the merits of all the applications."

Lynne said Wolves provided double the minimum requirement of free disabled parking spaces and more than many other football clubs. There was also a ring-and-ride facility available. Matt Grayson said: "We have a lot of sympathy with this gentleman's plight but look at things in the fairest and most consistent way we can. We do have other car parking areas."

Jez added: "Our systems are evolving and we're completely comfortable with the decision and have had the Premier League here this week saying our disabled provision was as good as they had seen."

Darren Cash said he had received emails and comments from other fans thanking the Parliament for discussing facilities at Molineux for the disabled. And he added: "No-one has got a bad word to say about the Paycare room."

Georgina Savage said she had been made aware of new arrangements with gaining access to the Terrace Bar at half-time and was told by Jez: "Complaints had emanated from over crowding. The room can hold 440 people and there were previously too many in - the numbers were breaking the safety regulations. We had to control the number of people going in so the stewards are clicking people in now."

Georgina also spoke about an incident at half-time in the West Ham game when a man in front of her collapsed in the Stan Cullis Stand. "It must have been five minutes before we could attract the stewards over and a good ten minutes before the St John's people came," she said.

Matt pointed out that all stewards were trained in first aid but promised to look into the matter and said the club would also investigate Anne Pearce's complaint that stewards were failing to enforce the 'keep clear' area in front of disabled fans and so preventing them being able to see pre-match presentations and the like.