By Chris O'Brien
February 24 2006

Up to 1,000 Manchester United supporters in Northern Ireland could be 'shut out' of Sunday's League Cup final at the Millennium Stadium. A postal strike across Ulster means many fans have not had their tickets delivered, and the Football League and MUFC are struggling to find a compromise.

Hundreds of Manchester United supporters could be locked out of the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, despite having paid-up for their tickets and booked travel to the Welsh capital.

Supporters from Northern Ireland have been left sweating on the arrival of their tickets following a recent postal strike. The Royal Mail has refused to pay staff overtime to clear a four-week backlog and as a result many fans across the Province are unlikely to receive their tickets in time for the all-Lancastrian showdown.

Meanwhile, officials at the Millennium Stadium are sceptical to produce duplicate tickets for security reasons. The Football League and MUFC are desperate to find a solution, but time is quickly running out and a very loyal and sizeable group of Ulster-based fans could be unable to attend the eagerly anticipated final.

"We fully appreciate the concerns of our fans, and are very sympathetic towards them, but the situation is out of our hands," said an official club statement.

"It is the Millennium Stadium authorities in Cardiff who will not issue duplicate tickets."

It is estimated that the ticketing problem could affect up to 1,000 supporters.