West Ham's match commander and their Safety Adivisory Group are insisting on a full bubble trip for all Cardiff fans attending this fixture. This would involve all supporters travelling on official coaches, meeting the police at South Mimms services and then being escorted from there to Upton Park. Independent travel would not be permitted and exiles would also have to comply with the bubble restrictions. The ticket allocation would be 1,250.
This decision was reached by the West Ham officials without any consultation with their Cardiff counterparts or with the South Wales Police.
West Ham have stated in writing that the alternative to a bubble trip is an outright ban on Cardiff fans.
Cardiff City Football Club officials have refused to accept full bubble trip restrictions. Instead, they have proposed a voucher exchange at South Mimms services, with fans being allowed to travel to London independently if they so desire. The club has also requested that approved exiled fans be allowed to go straight to the game instead of the services.
West Ham's match commander has written to CCFC today and confirmed that their stance has not changed.
CCFC has the support of the South Wales Police, whose Chief Superintendant has written to his West Ham counterpart on the club's behalf. The Football League are also writing to West Ham, while other match commanders in the Met Police area are said to be lending their support.
If the game does become a voucher exchange instead of a full bubble trip, Ambassadors and season ticket holders who went to six or more away league games last season will initially qualify for tickets.
If the West Ham match commander and SAG do not relax their current position, Cardiff fans will be banned from this fixture.
The club's Travel Group, which includes representatives of the Supporters' Club and a number of independent coach operators, voted last evening in support of the club's stance as regards this game.
Bristol City have apparently confirmed that this season's fixture at Ashton Gate will be a ticket exchange as opposed to a full bubble match.
The only other significant news this evening is that Cardiff City Football Intelligence Officer Simon Insole of the South Wales Police will be leaving the force within the next fortnight. He will be taking up a 12-month contract to work in London on the 2012 Olympics.
Simon will be an enormous loss to the club, but officials are intending to involve him in its match day operations once his contract at the Olympics has been completed.
I'm fortunate to have been a mate of Simon's for many years, long before his official involvement with CCFC began. He's a top man and the amount of work he has done for the club and its fans since he became a football intelligence officer has been immense. The club has made massive strides in recent years in terms of reducing its arrest figures and improving its image, and Simon has played a leading role in both respects. He will be missed by the club's officials and supporters alike.