Sir Kenny Dalglish believes the correct decision has been made after the capacity at Hillsborough's Leppings Lane end was cut following fresh concerns over overcrowding in the stand.
Sheffield City Council, overseen by its Safety Advisory Group, last week determined the capacity in the stand should be reduced from 4,700 to 3,700 after incidents involving Newcastle United fans during their FA Cup third round tie at Sheffield Wednesday in January.
Magpies supporters had complained about crushing around the narrow Leppings Lane access tunnel and were critical of the crowd management that saw children and parents become upset.
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In 1989, the stand was the scene of the worst tragedy in British football when 97 Liverpool supporters lost their lives having been crushed in the Leppings Lane central pens at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. Since then, fences have been removed and seating introduced at the stand.
And while Dalglish, who was Liverpool manager at the time, has expressed his surprise the problems in the stand haven't already been properly addressed, he has welcomed the move now taken by the authorities.
“Even before Hillsborough (the disaster) they had a problem,” he said, speaking to The Times. “I think it was Leeds and someone else (the 1987 FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City) and there was a problem there as well. I’m very surprised to hear it’s come back again. They’ve not changed it, other than to reduce the numbers that were in there.
“If they have reduced it even further then at least they are taking some responsibility and trying to look into it. They (Sheffield Wendesday) are in League One now so there aren’t too many away teams are going to fill that.
"But if they get promotion they could have a Sheffield derby coming up if (Sheffield United) stay in the same division. They are right to address it if it is a problem.”
League One leaders Wednesday, who were not ruled to have breached their stadium safety certificate after the incidents against Newcastle, have challenged the council's decision to cut the capacity for the remainder of the campaign. Hillsborough has already had its capacity reduced to under 35,000 for several years but this season has attracted only one attendance above 30,000.
