THOUSANDS of Gillingham fans face being locked out of Upton Park for the next month's derby with West Ham.

The club have been allocated the maximum 2,900 tickets, which falls well short in meeting the demand from Gills fans, for the historic first League meeting between the two clubs at the ground on March 27.

The last time the two played each other at Upton Park was in a Southern League fixture before the First World War. Steve Kitcher of West Ham's ticket office confirmed: "League regulations state that we send the opposition 10 per cent of our capacity which is 2,900.

"I gather there is a big demand among Gillingham supporters to see the game but unfortunately we are unable to send any extra tickets.

"The Gillingham supporters will be accommodated in the lower tier of the Centenary Stand and tickets will be priced at £22 for adults and £15 for juniors under 16."

Mark Agate of the Gills Independent Supporters' Club predicted that news of the allocation would lead to a scramble for tickets.

He said: "The West Ham match is by far and away Gillingham's most attractive derby and has really fired up the imagination of supporters who have been looking forward to the game for some time.

"Demand to see the game will certainly outstrip the supply of tickets and I don't believe 2,900 tickets will go that far in meeting the needs of Gills fans wanting to go to the game.

"But West Ham are only complying with Football League regulations regarding the allocation to visiting fans."

Nigel Holland, chairman of the Gillingham Supporters' Trust, called on the club to do their best so that regular home and away fans would not be disappointed.

He said: "I hope the club allocates the tickets fairly and that genuine supporters, like those who braved the elements at Burnley on Saturday, benefit."