A protective 'ring of steel' is to be deployed around pundits at football grounds amid a rise in instances of fan abuse.
Mail Sport understands that - following high level talks between broadcasters, the Premier League and clubs - security staff will be placed in front of gantries at grounds were they are positioned close to public areas.
The move comes amid concerns raised by insiders that it is 'just a matter of time' until a pundit is physically attacked. In recent times there have been a series of incidents in which pundits have been singled out for verbal and physical abuse.