As a result of the club's promotion to the Premier Division in 1983, Muirton Park became a designated stadium under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act. The club was immediately relegated to the lower divisions, but the designation remained in place and the club could not afford the remedial work required. The North Stand, plus part of the Centre Stand, were closed off as a direct result of the disastrous fire at Bradford City in 1985 raising the issue that all such wooden stands were simply too dangerous. Of 2185 seats in the main stand, only 500 were permitted for use. The future looked bleak for Muirton Park and for a club looking at huge costs to bring the ground up to modern standards if they achieved their aim of playing at the top flight of Scottish football. Muirton Park had remained almost unchanged until a permanent segregation fence was put in place prior to a Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen in 1988.