West Bromwich Albion's proposals to add safe standing at their home stadium have been rejected by the government.
The Baggies hoped to install 3,600 'rail seats' which can be locked in an upright position at The Hawthorns, but the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has knocked back the plans.
The club's director of operations Mark Miles described the decision as "surprising" and "short-sighted", pointing out that safe standing schemes have proven a success at Celtic and German club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
"I think the minister has taken a short-sighted view and is preventing the club from creating a safer environment for supporters," BBC Sport quotes him as saying.
"The all-seater policy was developed over 25 years ago and football is a very different place now."
The all-seater requirement for English football stadiums was introduced based on recommendations made in the Taylor Report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans were killed.
The government rejected West Brom's proposals because it has "no plans" to alter the requirement at present.
