Away fans are set to stay in level seven of the Leazes End next season – whatever division Newcastle are in.

The Magpies were granted a special dispensation to be excluded from a Premier League edict that visiting supporters must be housed at pitchside to protect atmospheres in the top tier in their first season after promotion from the Championship.

It was originally thought that it was for one season only but it will extend into a second season and is unlikely to be challenged on safety grounds. The club are making plans for next season with away fans situated where they are now – whether they remain in the top flight or are relegated to the second tier.

The reason for the original decision was solely on safety grounds.

United commissioned independent experts to assess the safety of moving fans and made a compelling case to the Premier League that the move would put supporters at risk. It was originally billed as a temporary solution but it now appears to be indefinite, with the Premier League not having revisited the situation in time for the club to get the appropriate safety certificate for next season.

It means that home fans in the Leazes End, who will be asked to renew their season tickets in the coming weeks, will not face the prospect of being relocated.

Whether the Premier League will look to change things in the coming year is not clear, but there has been no communication from them since last year.

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Clubs agreed in late 2016 – before Newcastle were promoted – that the new rule would come into force in the 2017/18 season and it would have affected Sunderland had they stayed up. No other club has had to move supporters.

“Basically you won’t be able to be stuck up in the third tier, out in the corner, if you’re an away fan,” Richard Scudamore, Premier League Executive Chairman, said at the time.

“Pitch-side is the easiest way of describing it but clearly some ground configurations (mean) there might be some gap between where the seats actually are, and there might be something else in between that and the pitch.

“It’s about atmosphere. One of the unique things about our game, particularly in England, is the amount of away fans and the noise they create. When an away goal is scored, you want that atmosphere and interaction between the two sets of fans.

“The fans are an integral part of the Premier League. Their passion, commitment and support are valued enormously by the players, clubs and the League.”