Shrimpers’ anger at ticket disparity

SOUTHEND United have complained to the Football League over tonight’s ticket promotion, which allows home fans entry for just £5 — but which is not open to visiting fans making the 500-mile round trip.

Shrimpers supporters arriving tonight at SportsDirect.com Park will have to part with £22 to watch their side.

That’s £17 more than those fans of the home team who bought before yesterday’s 5pm deadline, with the price cut designed to ease the burden on fans’ pockets in the run-up to Christmas.

Though the Football League allow four such ticket promotions each season, Southend CEO Steve Kavanagh has been left unimpressed.

“I’m upset by the situation and I have made the Football League aware of it,” he said.

“Four local promotions are allowed to take place every season, but these have to be registered properly.”

Athletic commercial director Mark Moisley said he had been in touch with Southend officials to explain the club’s reasoning behind the cut-price ticker offer.

Moisley added: “The league are aware of the promotion, which we are running to aid supporters as this will be our third home game in seven days.

“We are entitled to run four local promotions per season for home fans and this will be the first of this kind for 2015-16.”