Away fans "look unlikely to be moved to pitchside" at St. James’ Park next season if League Championship side Newcastle United is promoted to the Premier League -- with the club "putting together a compelling case for exemption from new rules designed to boost stadium atmospheres through the top flight," according to Mark Douglas of CHRONICLE LIVE. Premier League clubs agreed earlier in the season that "at least one block of away fans must be situated at pitchside to protect the atmosphere at games." It is "unlikely to affect most of the top flight clubs but in the event of promotion it would have a major impact on Newcastle," which puts away fans in the top level of the Leazes End. The club believes that there are "compelling safety reasons for not moving fans" -- with any move to pitchside making it "difficult to segregate fans at certain exits" at St. James’ Park. The club has "put those to the Premier League and an exemption is set to be agreed on safety grounds." It "may cause some controversy" among the Football Supporters Federation, which backed the Premier League's move to keep fans pitchside (CHRONICLE LIVE, 3/19).