A number of Manchester United season ticket holders have been left 'angry and upset' after the club informed them of plans to replace their seats at Old Trafford with premium seating.
The supporters, who wish to remain anonymous, have contacted the Manchester Evening News to share their frustration over the issue, which has rumbled on for more than a month without a satisfactory resolution for annoyed fans.
The issue has arisen from season ticket holders in the NW Quadrant Tier 2, some of who have held seats in the area since it first opened in 2006, being told to relocate in order to make space for a new premium seating area. It's understood the anger from supporters has been exacerbated by the process to pick new seats.
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The fans said they were left to pick from whatever was available within Old Trafford and one supporter has criticised the club for their handling of the situation.
"The club never apologised, demonstrated any understanding or even acknowledged the upset that this might cause," the fan said. "To make matters worse, we were informed that we had to pay in full [on March 29], despite the deadline for renewals being May 5.
"We were simply instructed to select new seats from the ground plan provided. As feared, the process did not run smoothly. Some of us had difficulty initially accessing the site and many of the seats highlighted as ‘available‘ actually weren’t in reality.
"I believe the club has failed to take into consideration any individual wishes or needs, and I know that some long-standing fans are seriously thinking of not renewing as a result. Surely, this isn’t the way to treat people who have loyally supported the club."
The fan continued: "Did nobody consider the impact that this news would have on us? Not only do regular match-going supporters have an emotional attachment to their seats but, over the years, lasting friendships and match-going communities are established. All of this will now be lost and is the cause of deep upset for many of us."
The MEN approached United for comment on the issue and they empathised with the group of supporters and passed on their apologies about the situation, but it's understood the fans did not receive a direct apology.
However, it's understood such relocations within Old Trafford are often deemed necessary by club staff. In this case, the hospitality allocation was not being increased but relocated into the NW Quadrant.
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