Oxford United have already sold more season tickets for the new campaign than they did for the whole of last season.

The club’s thrilling promotion success and return to the Football League has generated enormous interest among supporters, who have snapped up season tickets.

“Last year all season we sold 3,147, and we have already passed that. To date we have sold 3,193 for next season,” said United’s ticket office supervisor Dawn Wyllie.

Many fans took advantage of the “earlybird” offer, heavily discounted on the full price, which expired last week, and an earlier offer that season tickets would cost the same if bought by the end of last season.

That scheme rewarded fans who were prepared to support the club even though it was not known then which league they would be in.

“We sold just over 1,200 at the same price before the end of the season,” Wyllie said.

“There have also been quite a few new ones, and a lot of people who are coming back, who had bought them in our first season here (at the Kassam Stadium) but maybe haven’t since.

“We’re over the moon about the figure and there’s still another month to go for season ticket holders who haven’t yet renewed their existing seat.

“The response has been fantastic, especially as it was an expensive time with Wembley.”

Following on from the excitement of their play-off final win over Wembley, United look set to average well over 7,000 per home game in League Two next season – even if they are moderately successful.

That would have put them third last season for average home gates in League Two. Bradford were top with 11,423, and promoted Notts County second with average home gates of 7,353.

Meanwhile, United and other League clubs will have new financial reporting regulations and squad limits, as a result of proposals passed at the League’s annual meeting in Malta yesterday.

They also voted in changes to rules relating to clubs in administration.

Clubs voted in favour of new rules restricting first-team squads to 25 players over the age of 21, of which ten must be ‘home grown’ (registered in domestic football for three seasons before their 21st birthday). There will be no restriction on players under the age of 21.