By Jon Colman

Last updated 13:35, Wednesday, 07 May 2008

LESS than half of Carlisle United’s 2,000 ticket allocation for next Monday’s play-off clash at Leeds remain after a rush on the first day of sales yesterday.

Large queues formed at Brunton Park from 8am with tickets for both home and away legs of the semi-final selling rapidly.

United today reported that under 1,000 tickets for the Elland Road tie remain. They are on sale to season ticket holders and all other members of Carlisle United, with any remaining earmarked for general sale tomorrow.

Tickets for next Thursday’s second leg at Brunton Park are now on general sale with season ticket holders’ places reserved until next Monday.

Leeds, meanwhile, have spoken of their disappointment at their allocation of 1,637 tickets for the second leg at Brunton Park.

Carlisle have given the Yorkshire club less than half the number of tickets they received for the corresponding league fixture last November, on the advice of Cumbria Police. Football League regulations stipulate that visiting clubs must be offered at least 10 per cent of a stadium’s capacity or 2,000 tickets, whichever is lower.

Although Leeds have also allocated Carlisle fans the absolute minimum for the first leg, their chief executive Shaun Harvey said of the second leg: “We’re disappointed with the allocation, as a lot of our supporters will be.

“That’s the problem with having such a big away support in a division capacities of the stadiums are fairly small.”