Milton Keynes owner Pete Winkelman has defended his club’s decision to only allocate 2,028 tickets to Wycombe Wanderers for the second leg of their League One play-off semi-final.
The fixture, which will take place at MK’s 30,500-seater stadium, Stadium: MK, will also see the travelling Chairboys fans separated in the top tier of the ground.
@MKDonsFC
— Albert Pierrepont (@AlbertPierrep1) May 3, 2022
Total and utter disgrace, they way you've dealt with these Wycombe tickets ...
The Wycombe faithful will be sectioned in the north end of the multi-million-pound arena with 1,261 fans being based in the North East, and 767 in the North West.
However, it has since been revealed that an extra 200 tickets for travelling supporters were given to Wycombe, although the number was still criticised for being too low amongst fans and pundits.
Big row brewing ahead of Wycombe v MK Dons play-off. Understand Wycombe being given just 2,000 tickets for 2nd leg (in different sections of the ground too) as #mkdons look to maximise home advance even though match won’t sell out. Wycombe & Thames Valley Police upset. #chairboys
— Ian Baker (@ianbakersport) May 2, 2022
Winkelman, who spire headed Milton Keynes’ controversial place in the EFL in 2004 at the expense of Wimbledon FC who dissolved after entering administration, told BBC Three Counties Radio: “This is about sporting advantage.
"Just because we have a big stadium it isn't there to be of benefit to everybody else.
"It's very clear that in the play-offs, it's about home advantage.
Tickets for the away leg are now on general sale. 200 are available.#MKDvWYC https://t.co/qXKyJRACma
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) May 5, 2022
“We finished third, which means we have our home game last, and we want to keep that sporting advantage because it really matters to Milton Keynes that we go up."
The 64-year-old also revealed that he had spoken to Wycombe’s owner, Rob Couhig, about the number of tickets that would be given to the Adams Park club ahead of the match on Sunday, May 8.
#MKDonsFC played #LFC earlier this season, giving them 6301 tickets.
— Matt Edwards (@_Matt_E) May 2, 2022
The attendance was 28521. Capacity is 30000.
So against one of the biggest teams in the world, they had 1579 empty seats. Yet they only give #Wycombe 2028 tickets, in different corners of the upper tier? 🤢🤮
In the other semi-final between Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday, both sets of away teams will also get 2,000 tickets each.
Mr Winkelman continued: "I've made sure in conversations with Rob (Couhig), the owner of Wycombe, that the 2,000 tickets will all be available to fans.
“Normally the allocation for players' tickets and staff come out of that 2,000 - we've added that on top to make sure we're completely and utterly fair.
"When it was third against fifth (during the season), Wycombe only brought 1,500 to us so we've got no problem with the amount of tickets we've made available.
With everything that's happened over the last two years with Covid, and fans not being allowed to watch live football, this is a very poor tactic from MK. #Chairboyshttps://t.co/SRGUNnJ7ml
— James Richings (@James_BFP) May 2, 2022
"We're giving more tickets to Wycombe fans than anybody else is getting in these play-offs and significantly more than we are able to take to Adams Park.
"I'm confident I am doing the right thing for my football club because I want my players and my manager to have the very best chance on Sunday."
Since moving to Stadium: MK in 2007, only three fixtures have nearly seen the club’s ground reach full capacity.
All three games came in cup matches against Manchester United in 2014, Chelsea in 2016, and Liverpool in 2019, respectively.
𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗨𝗦𝗛
— Milton Keynes Dons (@MKDonsFC) May 6, 2022
Tickets for Sunday’s Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg are still available to buy online and from the Box Office 🎟
More seats available in the Cowshed after held Season Ticket seats have been released 👉 https://t.co/yj1tgL3C9C pic.twitter.com/M5wha05SM0
Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth also spoke about the ticket situation at MK following his side's 2-0 win in the first-leg at Adams Park on May 5, where nearly 9,000 fans attended.
He said: “I really hope that everyone who wanted a ticket got a ticket [against MK on May 5] as we filled up Adams Park and it was brilliant.
“And I am really hoping that they’ve got their tickets for MK too.
“I know only 2,200 were given, which I’m gutted about as I wanted more and I am sure the Wycombe fans wanted more, but, MK are fearing Wycombe which is a crazy thing to say.
🎟️Ticket details
— Chairboys on the Net - Paul Lewis (@GasmanCOTN) May 2, 2022
Milton Keynes v Wycombe Wanderers
Play-off 2nd leg were released by WW around 5pm (today, Sunday).
Allocation 2,028 (6.7% of 30,500 capacity), split across 2 upper corners of the north end of the stadium (1,261 North East, 767 North West)https://t.co/I3bvIl2sfv https://t.co/vaHh8snRH2
“But our fans have been brilliant and they do get behind us, especially from home as this place was rocking.”
The match will take place on Sunday, May 8 with a 6.30pm kick-off.
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