Town fans have found an ally in chairman Dean Hoyle, as they step up their campaign for safe standing at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The Football League has launched a consultation into standing at games and Town supporters are backing the ‘safe standing’ campaign.

A survey of Town fans showed that 72% wanted to stand at matches and 92% said the club should support the campaign.

Around 200 fans stood behind the goal in the Fantastic Media Stand against Charlton in the FA Cup, and Chairman Dean Hoyle told the Examiner he backed safe standing.

“Some of my best memories of football at the old Leeds Road ground were stood up participating in the vocal support,” said Mr Hoyle.

Town’s stadium is owned by Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd (KSDL) and Mr Hoyle said any move to safe standing would prove costly.

“If the Football League allows safe standing I am sure it is something we would seriously consider and look at.

“It would only be certain sections of the ground. There’s no reason it couldn’t happen behind the goals but there’s a long way to go.”

Following on from the defeat at QPR, Town faced Charlton Athletic yet again on Saturday in the 4th round of the FA Cup.

It was an entertaining match (particularly in the first-half) and a decent performance from Town, but again it was missed chances that hampered our progression.

The stats were pleasing enough but the end product was lacking, and when Simon Church popped up to give the Addicks a solitary goal, it proved enough to see them into the 5th round, where they will face Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Town created more than ten chances, with the best ones falling to Danny Ward and Duane Holmes, but both put their shots wide.

As the old adage goes: ‘We can now concentrate on the league!’

Onto Tuesday evening and the long trip to Bournemouth saw another defeat, with Tokelo Rantie scoring the winner for Bournemouth after Calum Woods had equalised for Town.

With the fourth official signalling five minutes of injury time, Town piled on the pressure, and Ward had a glorious chance to put Town level but he missed the target.

The goals conceded will not make pretty viewing for Mark Robins and his backroom staff but come 3pm on Saturday at Elland Road, the Terriers will have put this behind them and will be plotting victory over local rivals Leeds.

The match is almost sold out for Town fans and the message once again from HTSA is clear – get behind the lads and roar them onto victory!

Departure time for the HTSA coach to Leeds is 12.30pm. The coach leaves from Canalside and is priced at only �9.00 for HTSA members.ŠAs usual, these can be booked via the Travel Hotline on 07905 580784 but hurry if you want a chance to win the prize draw as there are only limited seats left!

Details are also provided on the HTSA website – www.htsa-online.co.uk as well as social media sites Facebook (HTSA) and Twitter (@officialhtsa).

A reminder that the next Heavy Woollen meeting is on Tuesday, February 25 where the guests have been confirmed as Ann Hough, Sean Jarvis and Ross Wilson. “Meet the directors” is the theme to be used. Start time is 7.30pm at the new venue of Millbridge WMC, close to the cross-roads on the A62 at Liversedge.