POOLE Town will be forced to cough up to pay for management and players to enter the Bob Lucas Stadium ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Weymouth.

A squabble over complimentary tickets has resulted in the Terras insisting the Dolphins will be permitted to take a maximum of 24 personnel into the ground free of charge.

Poole boss Tom Killick has a 21-man first-team squad and a nine-strong backroom staff, meaning the club will have to shell out £66 on six extra tickets.

Killick has slammed the move and says he is “amazed clubs can stipulate how many players you can take to a game”, while Weymouth have pinned the blame on the Poole boss.

Terras chairman Chris Pugsley claims they have taken the action after Killick took three under-18 players and “snuck in” adults through the players’ entrance when the teams met on Boxing Day.

Poole, who are currently seven points clear at the top of the Premier Division of the Southern League, face-off against their Dorset rivals who are nine points behind but with two games in hand.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “We are looking forward to it, providing we can get enough people into the ground. I’ve got nine staff and a squad of 21 who are expected to turn up on matchdays. Unfortunately, some of them may have to stay at home because Weymouth can’t afford to let them in.

“According to the league, the home club has discretion as to how many tickets it gives so I am thinking the next time we have a tough game, we might only allow six or seven players in if this is the way forward.

“I am amazed that clubs are allowed to stipulate how many players and staff you can bring to a game but that is what Weymouth are saying. We don’t count people in and don’t have any issues with it at our home games. I am irritated by it.”

The two league fixtures between the clubs last season both drew crowds of more than 1,000 with a 2-2 draw at Tatnam in August followed by a 3-0 win for Poole at Weymouth on Boxing Day.

Weymouth chairman Pugsley said: “The normal policy from Weymouth’s point of view is 24 which is what the league guidelines are. But to be quite frank, under normal circumstances, if anybody asked for a few more, it wouldn’t be a problem.

“Tommy Killick attended the football club last season and he took in three under-18 players saying they were kit men. He snuck in adults through the players’ entrance and, basically, it was a little bit out of order to say the least so we have to go with the guidelines on this one.”

Killick strenuously refuted Weymouth’s claims regarding the Boxing Day fixture, saying he had taken his nephew into the ground who had helped with the kit.