FIVE football supporters will have to wait to learn whether or not they have won their long-running battle to retain their personal seats at Newcastle United.

Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice, sitting in the Court of Appeal with Lord Justice Waller and Lord Justice Clarke, yesterday reserved judgment on the dispute.

But he also made an unusual plea to the club to consider paying the season ticket holders' legal costs if they eventually lose the battle. Lord Woolf suggested that, bearing in mind these were "loyal supporters" of the club, that would be "the right attitude" for it to take.

In 1994, devoted Magpie fans Jane Duffy, Alison Waugh, Colin Whittle, Tony Coutts and Brent Pitcher bought £500 United Bonds as a result of the club's representations that it would give them the guaranteed right to buy a season ticket for their own personal seats in the Milburn stand for ten years.

There was uproar when they and other supporters were asked to give up their seats and move to different parts of the ground after plans were drawn up to redevelop the St James's Park stadium.

Their seats are currently being advertised for sale to the corporate market at between £995 and £1,350.

The five are among 4,000 fans, including 2,000 bondholders, being moved from their seats in the Milburn and Sir John Hall stands as part of the redevelopment scheme.

In February, High Court judge Mr Justice Blackburne, sitting at Newcastle, ruled that a clause in the bond conditions gave the club the right to move them. This week they asked the Court of Appeal to rule the judge's decision was wrong in law and overturn it.

Nicholas Stewart QC, appearing for the club, told the judges Mr Keegan's views were "irrelevant" to the legal situation.

He said Mr Keegan's evidence had not been challenged by the club because he was only expressing a personal opinion.

Mr Stewart had good news for the supporters when he said the club would give the five fans and other bondholders in dispute with it until after the judgment to make their applications for alternative seats. Many had feared their places at the ground were in jeopardy.