Utd's new attendance policy at Old Trafford is slammed by ANOTHER protest group

Manchester United have come under fire again from fans who fear the club’s new policy regarding matchday attendance at Old Trafford will lead to ‘a bloodbath for season ticket holders’.

Protest group South Stand United took the club to task earlier this week over the decision to relocate fans in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand so academy and women’s players could have a better view.

Now another group, The 1958, have complained that a new rule coming into force next season is ‘draconian’ because it means fans will lose their season tickets if they fail to attend a minimum of 17 out of the 19 Premier League home games.

The 1958 have accused United of wanting to ‘cull’ season ticket holders so they can sell the seats for higher prices as part of hospitality packages. The group are also unhappy that the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust have not done more to challenge the policy.

A spokesman said: ‘We believe match-going supporters are being marginalised and ignored and this needs to stop. For example the 17/19 rule is draconian and too strict.

‘This leaves very little room for error in an environment where match times and dates are moved to accommodate television rights, traffic and travel expense issues.

‘We truly believe the club is trying to cull the season ticket holder in pursuit of higher revenues through increased hospitality and fans who wish to attend games for that “once in a lifetime experience”.

‘We feel that next season could be a bloodbath for season ticket holders. This is of real concern to match-going supporters and a concern that has not been challenged by the supporters’ trust.

‘Season ticket holders feel that they are not being represented by any fan rep or trust in the right way. That much is clear.’

United insist that the system is fair because fans have three options available to them before they are marked as absent.

They can sell the ticket back to the club, transfer it to designated friends or family under the forwarding membership, or donate the cost of the ticket to the Manchester United Foundation.

A club spokesman said: ‘Our ticketing policy is aimed at ensuring Old Trafford is always as full as possible, maximising the number of fans able to access tickets and to support the team. This has led to an average turn-up rate of 94 per cent, among the highest in world football.

‘With a season ticket waiting list of 155,000 and 430,000 official members, we make it as easy as possible for current season ticket-holders who cannot attend to transfer or return their tickets, or to donate their seat to Manchester United Foundation.

‘The latter has led to £1m being raised and invested in local youth initiatives. Tickets returned to the club are refunded in full and only resold to official members – never as hospitality.’

The 1958 had said they were against selling tickets back to the club ‘for fear of them selling at inflated prices as hospitality packages’.

The group’s spokesman claimed: ‘We had plenty examples of this last year. The distrust is there between the club and match-going supporters.’

The 1958 are also unhappy over the forwarding membership because it requires the friends or family who receive the ticket to pay £20 per season.

The group have conducted a poll on its claimbackunited website, and say 95 per cent of the 17,000 responses showed that fans want the membership structure and season ticket policy changed and do not feel their voice is being heard.

The group’s spokesman added: ‘Forcing friends and family to pay a minimum of £20 just to have a ticket forwarded to them by another family member is disgusting.

‘This needs abolishing and a system implemented for named friends and family to receive the ticket if this needs to be passed on. Remember, this season ticket holder has paid for the ticket already!

‘The results of our survey are damning and a sad indictment of our club and our so-called fan representation.’

An MUST spokesman responded to the comments, telling Mail Sport: ‘United fans need to stick together. It’s better to work with the club when ticket policies change, as they do at every club. Being divided is not in anyone’s interests.’

Meanwhile, in response to South Stand United’s complaint about prioritising the academy and women’s players, United say there were various reasons for relocating fans which also included consolidating hospitality seating.

The club say they ‘regret the disruption this has caused’ but point the number of hospitality seats will actually decrease by 500 next season.