St Johnstone release away fixtures announcement with Celtic set to play at McDiarmid Park

St Johnstone have released a statement regarding their away squad allocation ahead of their clash with Celtic at the end of the month.

The Bhoys will then travel to Perth where Saints face Hibernian and Ross County away in the next fortnight.

Some Scottish Premiership clubs have changed or even restricted the number of Celtic fans allowed into their stadiums to give priority to home fans, a practice that is becoming increasingly common in the top flight.

In an open letter, St Johnstone chairman Adam Webb has outlined new plans for the allocation of seats when Celtic come to town.

St Johnstone’s statement on away allocations

According to the St Johnstone’s official website, Webb said Celtic fans travelling to Perth would be “restricted” to the Ormond and North stands at McDiarmid Park and one section of the Geoff Brown Stadium, a legal requirement to ensure disabled seating is available.

The open letter read in part: “I want to emphasise our commitment to making McDiarmid Park a true fortress for our team, particularly when we host Celtic or Rangers. Historically, we have occasionally allocated the East Stand to away fans and moved supporters to the Geoff Brown Stand. We have also allocated more seats than necessary in the Geoff Brown Stand to opposition fans.

Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

“Under our new policy, which will be announced later this week, opposition fans will only be allowed in the Ormond and North stands and one section of the Geoff Brown Stand, which by law must be accessible.

“For this initiative to be a success, we need you – our passionate fans – to show up in droves. We understand that this is a collective effort and we are committed to making your experience as convenient as possible. We are implementing additional measures and plans to enhance your matchday experience, including improvements to accessibility, safety, parking and stadium services.

“Finally, in light of recent unpleasant incidents both home and away, we have reviewed and updated our terms and conditions for entry to McDiarmid Park on match days. These updated guidelines aim to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all. New terms and conditions will be shared later this week. We encourage all supporters to familiarise themselves with these changes.”

67 Hail Hail will keep Celtic fans updated with any further developments relating to the fairly new situation surrounding the Bhoys’ trip to Perth later this month.

Visiting allocations continue to decline across the Scottish game, damaging the spectacle and atmosphere created. Either way, the question remains what will happen next after St Johnstone’s open list.