On Wednesday night, in two very different settings 800km apart, the prospect of supporters again standing, legally, to watch top-flight football in England edged closer.

In Leverkusen, before a 5-0 away victory in a country known for its fan-friendly atmosphere, Manchester United supporters' groups examined the hybrid "rail" seating they would like to see introduced at home. Meanwhile, in the south-west of England, Bristol City were given council planning permission for a £40m redevelopment of Ashton Gate as a joint rugby and football stadium. With a capacity of up to 29,000, the plans include standing areas with 3,152 rail seats that could be flipped up or down as required to allow safe standing behind chest-high rails.



The revamped stadium could open in August 2015 if, as seems likely, the club chooses the plan over an alternative scheme to build a new ground that has become mired in planning issues. The bold move at the proposed new Ashton Gate, which a Bristol City spokesman said was a direct result of fan consultation that demanded a hybrid of modern facilities and old-fashioned atmosphere, is seen by campaigners as a key staging post in their battle to convince authorities of the merits of safe standing.

Almost 20 years since the Taylor Report made all-seater stadiums mandatory in the top two divisions, the mood is undoubtedly shifting. Premier League and Championship clubs consider safe standing a serious possibility. Ed Woodward, the Manchester United chief executive, is keen to thaw relations with fan groups that have hardened into permafrost during the Glazer era and has said he is open to considering the introduction of German-style safe-standing rail seats at Old Trafford. At Arsenal, Arsène Wenger has said he agrees "100%" with safe standing while the chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, has said: "Why would you be against it, if you can do it safely?"

A series of fan surveys, most recently at Arsenal and Aston Villa, suggest that, on average, nine in 10 fans would support its introduction. Manchester City, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Swansea, Cardiff, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Hull are among clubs actively in favour of exploring the idea.

The major exception is Liverpool, who say they wish to respect the families of the 96 who died at Hillsborough. But, even on Merseyside, there is a growing feeling that the disaster – caused by poor policing and an unsafe ground – and the grave injustices that followed should be disentangled from the subject of standing.

Around the country, it is being discussed in fan meetings and boardrooms, helped by the fact that, as reported in the Observer earlier this month, many clubs are actively looking for ways to improve atmosphere.

"If you put rail seats in as an all-seater solution, by demonstrating how safe that was, a lot of opposition would melt away," said Duncan Drasdo, the chief executive of the Manchester United Supporters' Trust. He argues that the £100 per seat invested in installing the German-style seats, which flip up for league matches and can be put down for European ties, is good for fans and good for clubs. "It's a sensible option to go for," he said. "There are a number of clubs that recognise how important the atmosphere is because it feeds into the TV product and the revenue. It's very hard to conclude that this is anything other than a better solution for supporters."

Those in favour of safe standing have had some success in banishing images of crumbling terraces filled with swaying or brawling masses in favour of a modern, safe solution that generates more atmosphere and is more fan friendly.

"Club officials look out across the crowd at big games and see thousands of fans standing in seated areas. It's not ideal from a crowd management point of view so you can see why more and more are coming to the conclusion that safe standing areas are the solution," said a spokesman for the Football Supporters' Federation. "Standing generates a better atmosphere – if you're in church you stand up to sing. Many who prefer to sit still back safe standing too, as separate areas mean they are less likely to have their view blocked."

Proponents of rails argue that it is safer than the current scenario, when fans are more likely to bruise their shins on the seat in front and upset those sitting behind. Also, the argument runs, it removes conflict between fans and stewards because everyone is clear about whether they are in a standing or sitting area. Even in all-seater stadiums, some clubs are going down this path, whether tacitly or officially.

As for the Championship, the Football League board has been mandated by clubs to look into the practicalities of changing the rules and trialling rail seats and is expected to report back in February. In Scotland, Celtic are committed to exploring the introduction of safe standing and are not subject to the same laws as England and Wales regarding all-seater stadiums.

Whether or not the German system could be introduced without changing the law is open to argument, and quickly dissolves into a discussion about when a seat is not a seat. Most of those backing the move believe that the rail system qualifies as a seat and as long as the local council agreed and the conditions of admission were altered accordingly there would be no impediment to installing them.

The Sports Ground Safety Authority, responsible for licensing all 92 grounds each year, believes the law prevents such a move and it would require a change in secondary legislation. The SGSA's chief executive, Ruth Shaw, said: "While we recognise that there are some fans who may prefer to stand, our view is that seating is generally safer, more comfortable and enables better crowd management. It can also help to create a more inclusive and diverse environment."

The Football Association also continues to support the policy of all-seater stadiums, while the Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, appears unwilling to reopen the debate. "Every issue in football is noisier than it used to be," he said. "If clubs are improving their dialogue with supporters you're inevitably going to get situations where an individual from a club is facing a series of questions from supporters who all want to see a return to standing.

"The easiest thing to say is that it's something we're prepared to look at. And most clubs are prepared to look at it, but safe in the knowledge that the likelihood of the legislation changing and the likelihood of the Premier League or FA changing their position is slim."

Yet some believe they are nearing a point where the necessary two-thirds majority in the Premier League would be in favour of trials. In reality, any move would need government approval, whether or not it required a change in the law. It is understood that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport would be prepared to consider the matter but only if the various football bodies, the police and licensing authorities give their blessing. Political expediency and memories of the 70s and 80s suggest it would take a lot of persuasion to change the status quo but if the pressure builds, Bristol City may be the unlikely standard bearers for a standing revolution.

Jon Darch, who runs the Safe Standing Roadshow and has demonstrated rail seats around the country, believes that the campaign is gathering pace. "What better TV product to sell around the world than a mixture of the football on the pitch in the Premier League and the atmosphere in the stands in the Bundesliga? And you could do it now, Mr Scudamore."