Athletic act to cut police bill

ATHLETIC have made a “significant” saving on their policing bill for next month’s home game against Huddersfield Town by banning home fans from the Leesfield Developments Rochdale Road Stand.

Season-ticket holders are being asked to relocate either to the Detect- All Chaddy end or Pentagon Motors main stand as Athletic have been forced to take the drastic action in a bid to reduce the estimated £11,000 police charges.

Chief-executive Alan Hardy explained: “Having fans from both clubs in the same stand and leaving at the same time can cause problems.

“We need extra police due to the fact fans are side by side and because there are often flashpoints at the back of the stand.

“If this can be avoided, it can produce significant savings for the club which is why we have taken the decision to ask season-ticket holders to relocate to the two other stands.

“In these harsh economic times, when the club is experiencing lower attendances, any saving or increase in revenue is vitally important to keep losses down.

“We trust our fans will understand this move and help us achieve this aim.”

Athletic have managed to reduce their security bill greatly in recent years by having low-risk category matches police free.

This season 14 of the 23 league matches are in that category, though the remaining nine include high-risk visits of Leeds, Huddersfield, Stockport and Tranmere.

Athletic are asking season-ticket holders to exchange their tickets as soon as possible as there will be a reduced capacity for home fans at the Huddersfield game.

Huddersfield have been allocated 2,785 tickets and if these are sold out they will also be given the smaller section of the stand.

Athletic decided to put the match back a day to Sunday, November 1 (2pm) as an experiment to see if a Sunday fixture will attract a higher attendance.

MK Dons manager Paul Ince has been handed a two-match touchline ban by the Football Association following his confrontation with referee Tony Bates during their recent match at Boundary Park.

Ince, who was incensed by a number of refereeing decisions, charged on to the field when the half-time whistle sounded and had a fiery exchange with Bates who sent him to the stand.

Ince has also been fined £2,000.