Cash blow for Chasetown

Tiny Chasetown Football Club face having to charge fans up to £40 a ticket for its dream FA Cup clash because of spiralling police costs.

The non-league side's ground only has a capacity of around 2,000 - but FA rules mean that it faces difficulties in moving the game to another ground.

Today it was trying to find a solution to the financial headache that would avoid having to overcharge its loyal supporters.

Police are keen for the game to be moved because of the danger of trouble from Cardiff fans.

But FA rules prevent two FA Cup ties being played at the same venue in one weekend, ruling out Molineux and Walsall's Banks's Stadium.

That leaves the Hawthorns as a possibility, although the club would have to pay West Bromwich Albion rent. Another rule means the club can only receive the gate receipts of what their own capacity would bring, with the rest going to the FA.

Chief executive and secretary of the British Gas Midland Division club Mick Joiner said: "We had a police bill of £8,000 when we played Oldham in the FA Cup two years ago.

"And, based on the ratio, our concern is that it could be double that. But we are determined not to over-charge fans."

Burntwood councillor and ardent Chasetown fan Paul Atkins today urged police to keep costs down for the tie.

Staffordshire Police said today there was no specific figure yet set for the cost of policing the game

Richard Caddy, spokesman for the Staffordshire Safety in Sports Grounds team which includes the police, said a solution was being sought to allow the game to continue at Church Street.

A decision is likely to be made in the next couple of days.