Franchise Notes: Norwich City Moving Season Ticket Holders Over Persistent Standing

League Championship side Norwich City "is moving season ticket holders out of a main stand over safety concerns caused by supporters standing." The club said that a safety group "told it to stop youngsters standing on seats or face having its capacity cut." Norwich City said that adults standing at the Barclay End at recent games "were a threat to the safety of young fans." About 50 supporters with season tickets in Block A of the stand received a letter from the club "telling them they must move" (BBC, 12/19).

Scottish Championship side Falkirk will withdraw funding from the Forth Valley Football Academy to concentrate on promotion, "leaving a question mark over the body's future." Despite "receiving praise" for its youth policy, the club has spent eight years in Scotland's second tier. Chair Margaret Lang revealed that it has led to "unsustainable" losses. She said, "We want to be a Premiership football club and, to achieve this, our first team needs to be our absolute focus" (BBC, 12/20).