LOFT pleased ‘common sense’ prevailed, but surprised by conditions put in place by EFL for remaining away tickets

Leyton Orient fans have been given a revised allocation of 1,000 tickets for their League Two match at Blackpool this weekend.

The EFL revealed on Monday that ticket sales had been temporarily suspended after the Bloomfield Road club raised a number of concerns.

But a statement from the EFL last night confirmed O’s supporters will be allowed to attend Saturday’s final game of the campaign.

“Following extensive discussions and representations made by relevant parties throughout the course of Tuesday, an agreement has been reached that delivers on the EFL’s objective to ensure both sets of spectators can attend the match live,” read an EFL statement.

“All remaining tickets sold to Leyton Orient supporters between now and Saturday’s kick-off will be done so only on the basis that the purchaser is a current 2016/17 Season Ticket holder or a member of the Leyton Orient Fans Trust (LOFT). All tickets sold prior to Monday’s suspension of sale remain valid.”

An EFL Spokesman said: “We are delighted we have been able to find an amicable solution to this particular issue and would like to place on record our thanks to all those parties who have assisted the EFL in achieving the outcome.”

LOFT expressed their surprised that one of the conditions put in place by the EFL for the remaining away tickets was that supporters had to be a season ticket holder or a member of the fans’ trust.

A statement by LOFT read: “We are pleased to note that common sense has prevailed at the EFL, in respect of suspension of ticket sales for Saturday’s match at Blackpool.

“It is unfortunate that this could not have been resolved between Blackpool FC and the EFL without causing O’s fans 24 hours of worry and anger.

“LOFT would like to note that the conditions of eligibility for sale of further tickets to Leyton Orient supporters were not of our asking, nor indeed our suggestion.

“LOFT was not consulted about this, nor will we be divulging who is and isn’t a LOFT member (in line with our Data Protection Act obligations), nor do we take responsibility for any issues as a result of the EFL’s criteria for sale.

“We feel that no restrictions beyond those which would ordinarily be in place for such a fixture are necessary, nor should it be necessary to restrict the number of tickets available to O’s supporters.”