Albion have defended the "no-win situation" of issuing tickets via postal ballot for the potential relegation decider at Grimsby on the last day of the season.

The Seagulls have been inundated by complaints from supporters angry the system of allocating tickets for away games has been altered for the trip to Blundell Park on Sunday May 4 (1.30pm).

Chief executive Martin Perry said: "In allocating 1,854 tickets to us with the possibility of a further 486, Grimsby have given us considerably more than the ten per cent to which we are entitled.

"The club understands its supporters' concern over the distribution of these tickets and has looked thoroughly at every possible method of allocation.

"It has been suggested those who have attended the maximum number of away games this season should receive priority.

"This would penalise those who have attended a substantial number of away matches by paying at the turnstiles and would, therefore, have no tickets recorded against their name on the ticket office database.

"It would also affect those unable to buy a ticket for the matches at Gillingham and Portsmouth, which were heavily oversubscribed, and the match against Wimbledon which some fans were reluctant to attend in sympathy with the home supporters. The club would also not wish to penalise supporters who cannot afford to attend every away match or who have commitments at home or at work that do not allow them to travel to as many matches as they would wish."

Perry added: "We also feel the deadline dates we have set for postal applications and the date for returns and refunds will deter those who want to attend this match only if there is relegation at stake.

"We have also received a substantial amount of applications by post from supporters who pre-empted our announcement about ticket arrangements. Had we allowed these applications to receive priority we would surely have faced protests from those waiting for the announcement to be made.

"It was, therefore, decided the club was in a no-win situation and the fairest way of allocating the tickets was by random postal ballot."

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