Terracing could return to Priestfield if legislation allows.

At present only clubs outside of the top two divisions can have terracing in their stadiums.

Clubs winning promotion to the Championship have three years to turn their terraced areas into all-seated sections.

Despite well-documented problems of the past, terracing remains popular among football fans and Gillingham Football Club are currently investigating the cost of introducing safe-standing areas to their Priestfield ground.

Gills chairman Paul Scally said: “I have asked our stadium manager to investigate the costs of installing it and how it would work at our club.

“I am not against it if the regulations ever permit allowing it and the government allow it. We would then consider it seriously.”

Gillingham play in League 1, where terracing remains legal. Clubs like Stevenage, Crawley and Carlisle still have large standing areas in their grounds.

Fellow League 1 side Bristol City recently introduced ‘rail-seating’ as an experiment. It is considered a safe way of standing, where areas can be easily adapted from seating to standing.

The idea of bringing terracing back to England’s top-flight grounds was raised in the summer at the Football League’s chairmen’s conference.

Clubs decided to investigate the issue further and all Football League clubs have been consulted. The Football League may now decide to take the matter to the government, in a bid to alter the law.

Mr Scally, who is still keen on taking Gillingham to a new ground, hasn’t ruled out terracing being implemented at a new build.

He said:"If it is proven to be safe and the government permits it, then I would be more than happy to consider it.”