Hawks Fratton Disaster

Hawks Fratton Disaster

Havant and Waterlooville could be loosing out on up to ten thousand pound if more tickets aren`t sold for the Millwall game Monday night.

There have currently been 2,000 tickets sold and Havant and Waterlooville need at least 7,800 to cover the cost of a Police presence of the scale that would be expected at an F.A Cup Final. In fact, Police will out number Millwall fans by up to 4 to 1. Only 190 fans from the London club will make the trip (thus far)

Havant`s chief executive told Portsmouth news:

'We would have expected to have sold more than that. It's depressing really. I am urging people to please come out and support us. We are absolutely desperate.

'Obviously we cannot force people to attend and it's still early days. But the bottom line is we need 7,800 people through those turnstiles and are now in serious trouble.

'Whether we attract one or 20,000 fans, the police bill is non-negotiable. Numbers are irrelevant. The fact it's graded as a Category C match is what's driving the cost up. We have got to remain positive but at this stage it's very difficult.'

The F.A have also raised concerns about the police bill, Havant and Waterlooville are being asked to pay;

'I think the police costs involved are excessive. The costs are above what you would expect for matches to be held around the country and it is a little hard to understand why. In fact, Havant & Waterlooville's policing costs are not far away from what the figures could be for the FA Cup final.

'Obviously Hampshire police have the intelligence for a game like this and it is not for us to criticise. It is not for me to criticise costs and the number of officers employed. It's just a shame but this is down to the police. All we can do is offer advice.'

I think the main reason so few have been sold is;

a) Lots will buy them on match day (Pompey Fulham)
b) Fears of trouble have been blown out of proportion (this isn`t Pompey V Millwall)
c) Lots of fans aren`t interested in Havant and Waterlooville

Tickets will be available at the ticket office Saturday

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