Brian Scovell, chairman of the FWA Facilities committee reports: "After several prompts, I finally went to see Karl Oyston, chairman of newly-promoted Blackpool, on Friday, July 1 and he showed me the plans for a new press box, interview room/refreshment area nearby and a photographers' room. I was delighted to see that the proposed press box will be on the halfway line, in the new stand opposite the main stand which will still house the dressing rooms. At an earlier discussion, I mentioned that the old press box at Upton Park in the heyday of Moore-Hurst-Peters was popular with most writers and broadcasters and Blackpool have come up with a similar idea - two-seat, narrow strips on either side of an entrance to the stand with a space next to supporters and at the rear, longer rows - a total of 102 seats all fitted to meet the Premier League criteria. If Blackpool are relegated, the facilities will stay.

The original plans indicated that the seats would go down to ground zero and Karl said "It will be under cover." Our past experiences show that winds can change quickly and I suggested that the press box should start on the second floor, not the first, and he appeared to accept that. CEO Matt Williams, who will now have several assistants helping him, said the manager and a player from each side would be escorted to the other side for interviews. Asked about a mixed zone, he said they didn't believe in them.

The foundations were just being finished for the new stand and Karl was sure that the work would be completed for the opening match.

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