I read with interest the article published in the Bolton Evening News on Saturday, October 1, regarding the efforts of Lee Bevan and his supporters to get smoking restricted to a single stand in the Reebok Stadium.

I understand where Mr Bevan is coming from, but feel this sort of policy is fudging the issues and plainly would not work. However, I compliment him for his show of concern.

I represent a group of long-standing season ticket holders from the West Stand, who are worried about the effects on our health due to the passive smoking that we have to endure at each home match.

This is exacerbated by the fact that the club - which obviously already has a no-smoking policy in certain executive / corporate entertainment areas of the West Stand - forces the smokers among their staff, footballers, families and guests into the concourses at every match to satisfy their habit.

Surely it is time the board of BWFC seriously considered the danger they are placing on the health of the very people who are the lifeblood of the club, and who, at the end of the day, are paying their wages.

In addition, they should also consider the threat to their own employees who have to work in this environment. The health of 20,000 to 30,000 supporters and employees should outweigh the worries they may have of alienating the bad mannered minority of smokers. After all, if they are real fans, they will still turn up for matches.

The only option is to ban smoking completely within the stadium, and eject the fans found flaunting the rules. Otherwise, I feel it may be time for the supporters to pass on their concerns to the Department of Health and the Health and Safety Executive.

Name and address supplied