MALCOLM Shotton's hopes of getting a big away support for his first official game as Oxford United's new manager have been dealt a blow by the "rip-off' admission prices at Division 1 leaders Nottingham Forest.

Scores of fans who would normally have gone to support the U's this Saturday are turning their back on the game - because Forest are demanding a minimum £20 admission charge per adult.

United ticket office manager Darren Bowler said: "There have been quite a few more who are coming to the game following Malcolm's appointment as manager.

"But, quite honestly, there's a lot who have been put off by the prices Forest are charging.

"Many supporters would rather go to Sheffield United the following week. That's an equally attractive game, and they can get in there for half the cost."

Adults will be charged just £10 at Bramall Lane, with under 16s, over 60s and students with their NUS cards getting in for £7.

But at the City Ground, Nottingham, it's a strict £20 per adult, with under 16s and over 65s having to pay £10.

Oxford United's London Road travel club are charging adults £8 for the return coach trip to Forest and only £1 more - £9 - to go the extra half hour to Sheffield on Saturday week.

Oxford have been allocated 800 seats at the City Ground and so far have sold around 200.

Ian House, 27, from Bicester, is one who has been put off by the price.

He said: "It's quite extortionate. If they were Premier League it might be more justified. A group of us went up to Leeds for the FA Cup match but they brought the price down to £12 for that.

"I'm a season ticket holder in the Osler Road and that works out around £6 a game. It's not right to then have to pay £20 for the same 90 minutes, especially when we've got Sheffield United the following week. It's a simple decision. If I can only afford to go to one of them, I'll go to Sheffield."

Forest press officer Larry Lloyd said: "The admission prices were set by the board at the start of the season. It's sad that it's always the supporters who suffer and I sympathise with fans who can't afford to come to the game."

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