The wide open space at one end of Posh's London Road ground, occupied until recently by the Moy's End terracing for away fans, is testament to the club's ambition to create a stadium fit for the modern era.

It's been a long time coming, but a brand-spanking new stand is to rise from the rubble and the club has also revealed plans to make the London Road end all-seated by 'retrofitting' the existing structure with seats.

How ironic then that news has just emerged of a major consultation exercise in which all 72 football league clubs will be asked on their views about the return of safe standing areas.

Currently League One and Two teams are allowed to maintain terracing, but Championship clubs must become all-seater after spending three years at that level.

Posh have yet to achieve that landmark in the second tier of football, but our ambition to become a recognised Championship club means we've had to lay down plans to redevelop London Road.

There's no doubt in my mind that we've got to make the ground a more desirable place to watch football as I fear its increasingly ramshackle nature is holding us back.

However, I hope the football authorities give the green light to allow grounds to maintain or bring back standing areas before the London Road end is consigned to history.

I'm old enough to remember the Hillsborough disaster and the subsequent improvements to grounds across the country were vital to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.

England now boasts some of the safest, most modern stadia in the world – a whole world away from the grounds of the 1980s where supporters were hemmed in like animals behind huge metal fences.

The safety of football supporters should always be paramount, but I believe this can be achieved while giving fans the chance to stand up.

I've been to many Posh away games where problems have emerged in an all-seated away end because fans who want to sit down have their view obscured by those who insist on standing.

Stewards will sometimes try to exert their authority by making fans sit down, but often give up within minutes and turn a blind eye to those intent on standing.

This can then result in angry scenes as those sat down clash with those stood in their way.

Posh's most recent appearance in the Championship saw us voted as the best away day experience for visiting fans – largely because supporters of bigger clubs were given a rare chance to roll back the years and stand behind the goal.

I agree with redeveloping the Moy's End, but I believe our ground can still be brought into the 21st century, even with the London Road end remaining as a standing area.

I guess the 'retrofitting' project would give Posh the option to convert the home end back into a standing area without too many problems, but I hope the authorities give the go-ahead for safe standing soon to give clubs like Posh a clear view of the future.

I haven't seen any reaction from Posh bosses to the latest consultation exercise, but it will be interesting to gauge their views. Getting the balance right between making London Road fit-for-purpose while appealing to all supporters, whether they prefer to stand or sit, is important.

Up the Posh!

Cooper will want revenge

Tomorrow's League One match at Swindon Town will provide Posh's faltering promotion ambitions with yet another tough test.

The Robins are hovering just below the play-off positions and have been a surprise package in League One this season.

Former Posh boss Mark Cooper will, no doubt, be looking for revenge over his former employers and we'll have to show a big improvement on recent games to return home with anything.

The match is also a dress-rehearsal for the two-leg Johnstone's Paint Trophy area final next month – which will see the winners earn a place in a Wembley showdown with the northern victors at the end of March. Let's hope it's now a case of familiarity breeding contempt...

Hull goal was full of nostalgia

Happy memories came flooding back to me as I watched last weekend's FA Cup highlights.

To see George Boyd and Aaron McLean celebrating together after a Hull goal was brilliant – especially as they were wearing Posh blue rather than Hull's first choice amber and black shirts.

McLean had just scored against Middlesbrough following his return from a loan spell with Birmingham and it's great to see two members of Posh's 'Holy Trinity' lining up together in the same Premier League side. I suspect McLean's long-term future lies elsewhere, but good on him for giving Hull boss Steve Bruce a glimpse of what he's got to offer.