Aberdeen's ticket allocation for Monday’s Scottish Cup trip to Darvel has been cut by 550 following a safety review.
The Ayrshire club initially planned to hand over 1750 briefs for the Red Army and keep 2250 for the biggest game in their history and insist a 4000 capacity had been passed as safe by council experts. But Aberdeen officials raised concerns over the area set aside for the away support. And after an independent review of tiny Recreation Park, Darvel have reduced the away end to 1200 while keeping the home section at 2250.
Darvel chairman John Gall was furious after being forced to carry out a further safety review of the ground which he claimed East Ayrshire Council had passed as fit to hold a 4000 capacity. The West of Scotland Premier League club spent over £50,000 preparing it for the televised fourth round clash by installing new emergency exits, anti-crush barriers and a temporary stand.
He said last week: “We were informed by Aberdeen's head of security that the club wanted another independent review into the area where the away fans will be, as they don't believe that it will hold 1,750 people.
"We, as well as the council, were absolutely raging about this as health and safety had already passed the ground for the game. We have done everything that we have been asked to do. Aberdeen fans will have the best view in the stadium, and are elevated to about 20 feet above the ground.”
The tie against a side five tiers above them is the biggest game in Darvel’s 133-year existence. Boss Mick Kennedy revealed the Ayrshire club could have cashed-in on January's glamour tie by moving it to nearby Rugby Park thanks to his chairman Gall’s close ties with Killie supremo Billy Bowie.
But he said: “Aberdeen coming to town will be a momentous occasion. For Darvel fans it’s what dreams are made of. It’s a huge day for the town.”
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