‘MIND the gap’ is a phrase first used on the London Underground to warn passengers to take care boarding their train. It’s since been applied to many situations where intentions conflict with reality.

Our football club has ‘gaps’ of its own just now. The stated intention to build the club to sustainability in its own stadium in the Championship collides with the reality of a team working for success under a new manager and the need to obtain planning approval for the new stadium at The Triangle.

New players signed during the transfer window and players returning to fitness argue for a positive mindset that on-field matters and results may improve. Time will tell and every fan will wish Des and the team well.

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Off the field, on Monday, Oxford United issued a statement describing potential benefits from the new stadium at The Triangle, should it be approved when it comes before Cherwell District Council in the coming weeks.

On Wednesday, this was followed by an interview with development director Jon Clarke. Some of the content will be familiar to many fans who have been following previous announcements. I feel though that there’s always value in repeating and building on a good news message. The appointment of a new company to get the message out about the benefits of The Triangle is timely.

The Monday statement contained a couple of nuggets of information worth highlighting, which are easy to overlook and are of interest to fans. I for one hadn’t spotted them previously.

The first point is the stated plan to have safe standing for 25 per cent of the capacity, or 4,000 fans. This will be fantastic and welcome news to the many fans who much prefer to stand to support the team.

It reflects successful national campaigns by supporters’ trusts, the Football Supporters’ Association, and others to introduce safe rail standing and seating options in the EFL and Premier League.

My ageing knees these days would not appreciate standing for 90 minutes, but in my younger days standing and singing was the essence of football. We need standing options for atmosphere and to allow choice and avoid the arguments that arise when ‘sitters’ have their view of the game obscured.

The second point was the provision of 130 accessible spaces for fans on wheels, with elevated views, far in excess of the current provision. How this works will need careful planning as regards to parking provision, access routes, and not least positioning in the stadium, but it’s an encouraging recognition of the need and the campaigning by Level Playing Field and others.

Gaps to be closed? Yes, there certainly are. But there are encouraging steps and we look forward to hearing more from the club and, dare I say it, a forthcoming fans’ forum to help the process along.