One of the main talking points this week, at least off the pitch, was the news that Bolton Wanderers had opened up a survey regarding the potential introduction of safe standing to the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Consultations have started with the Supporters’ Trust and the survey itself asks a variety of questions, including the potential for flags and banners, if fans would be interesting in moving there, whether the atmosphere improve and which stand it could be introduced in.

It brings up an interesting conversation as more professional clubs are coming round to the idea. Obviously, the idea has been a sensitive subject for years due to stadium tragedies in years gone by, but in today’s day and age, the necessary precautions to avoid fans being placed in danger will take top priority.

Questions have arisen about atmosphere at home games for some time, with the most vocal section being that of the East Stand Lower, especially those under the scoreboard. I would coin the term ‘Crazy Corner’, but I am a grown adult and would prefer not to label it as such.

Myself, being a regular in the West Stand Lower, it does lack enthusiasm to say the least. It is hard to sustain a chant or to spur the team on, and that does feed on to the pitch to a certain extent.

Ian Evatt has said countless times this year he wants a vocal backing at home games. Whether you agree or not, more can certainly be done to improve the atmosphere. The club have allowed fans to submit their playlists prior to game, but with all due respect that does not change a thing.

It does feel like safe standing is a mere formality, and with a stadium as modern as what Bolton have in place, there should really be no excuse not to introduce this. It is more of a question as to when, not if.

The Reading game saw the South Stand at capacity, with Evatt himself saying he wants the stands behind both goals full of Bolton fans, something which makes a notable difference.

The logistics in place to make this work are not a million miles away. It would not be a case of forcing fans to move from the upper tiers, but for example, if safe standing was introduced in the corner of the East Lower and across to parts of the South Stand, that could really create a dynamic and formidable atmosphere.

At the same time, you could still allow the larger away followings to have a decent allocation, whether that is giving them the South Upper and part of the upper tier in either the East or West Stand.

This is just me spitballing, but I am personally coming round to the idea of trying something different in terms of improving the overall feel of home games.

It might seem trivial, but sometimes these are the little things that could push a team on when they need that extra boost from the crowd.