Thinking about this logically the way they've structured ticket sales only 3,600 home tickets can possibly have been sold by Wednesday evening given the attendance for the Crewe home game was only around that many home fans. This means that are going to have to deal with the same numbers coming to the club for tickets in two days than have in the previous two weeks. That should be fun.....

They've really cocked up on a couple of fronts to me;

1) Stubs from the Crewe and Stoke games should have been applicable up until Friday, leaving a full week to sell the bulk of the tickets.

2) A stub from the Northampton game alone should have given you the chance to buy tickets up on Monday and Tuesday this week. That could have seen a much bigger crowd on friday night, when rather coincidentally the crowd was nearly exactly the same as it was for Crewe match.

Two days of general sale is farcical and will put a sell out in jeopardy, it would have been understandable if we'd have had a large crowd for the Crewe match but we didn't.

This isn't just a dig at the club from me, I just want us to maximise the potential of this match, we could have had another 1,500+ in the ground on Friday evening if they'd though about it. Also it doesn't effect me I'm a season ticket holder but I can see what's coming.I can envisage the same old complaints coming from the fair weather fans we are trying to encourage back to the Vic by the end of this week, we don't help ourselves do we?

Those going for general sales tickets are 99% certain to have not been to a game since Methuselah was a baby in his pram and are going simply to watch West Ham, and may only return if we make 5th round and draw another big club. Like you I'm a season ticket holder so if that happens I along with the other 1500 or so season ticket holders will be at the front of the queue.

If we do make the 5th round then the club should say anyone with 2 stubs from the only 2 games we have between rounds (Carlisle and Walsall) will be after season ticket holders then one stub. This I believe will make each of those games virtually a sell out.

The club should then ensure people where possible buy those tickets prior to the game(s). Problem with that is Carlisle is only 3 days after West Ham.

I believe West Ham will be a sell out, so those wanting to go and having to queue for general sale may just miss out.

About 3,200 tickets will go on general sale, they have 16 hours to sell them. Meaning for a sell out 200 tickets will have to be sold every hour. This on previous form (database ect) this is almost impossible.

As I said have they even thought about this properly? Did they not realise after they included the Crewe game 3,200 was the lowest amount of tickets that could possibly go on general sale? Who decided that 2 days would be enough to sell them?

They should seriously consider moving general sale forward to Wednesday if they want a sell out.

I have my doubts about the sell out solely because of this, will all those who are part timers be on the data base and let's be honest, if the weathers shitty for the two days of general sale, why turn up, see a queue and stand in it when you can watch it free on the box. Also, what time is the ticket office open till, if you're at work it's gonna be pretty awkward...........

I can see problems selling the amount you believe will go on general sale.

A way around that would be to take cash only on two of the turnstyles were you go through as if normal gate and back out through the gate.

Credit/debit card sales can still be took in the office, the cash taken on turnstyles is safe as those taking it are locked in, like at a game This could thearetically give them a minimum of 4 and upto how ever many turnstyles we have. Though 2 will in a way double the number sold per hour so 2 days would be sufficent.

Forgot about the data base rule that makes the turnstyle idea highly unlikely

I have every sympathy with exiles and hope everyone of them who wants a ticket gets one. Like those who attend home games they are true supporters of Pools' only distance stops them attending games.

To be honest and as I said last week I dont think it would have sold out even if joe public has been given a week to get tickets - with the TV coverage, the early start and the bleak financial situation I think the best we can hope for is around the 6500 mark - hope Im wrong

The timescale for exiles leaves no time for error. They go on sale on Thursday meaning that IF they are posted out promptly they have to arrive the following day or you're knackered. If you are waiting for the Saturday post it could well be too late to get there in time.

Oh, and if they did arrive on Saturday thus not leaving enough time to get up to Hartlepool, what do you think your chances of a refund are? I wouldn't hold my breath.

If can order by telephone I would suggest they just pick up at club on the Saturday, depending on how far the exile lives away some may have to travel friday/really early Saturday for a 12:40 kick off.

My God there are some moaning sods on here.

I can't believe that you're all whinging about ticket sales and putting a downer on one of the biggest matches in our history.

Talk about moaning about anything, you're now moaning about how we MIGHT not sell out the ground before it has even happened.

As I said previously, they should have sold 3 stubbers and season tickets at the same time. It couldn't have sold out so season ticket holders wouldn't have lost out.

I am off the next couple of days so if anyone needs to me to go down the club shop then give me a shout and I'll see what I can do.