CITY remain hopeful that all season-ticket holders will be able to get tickets for the Reading FA Cup quarter-final despite a day of “unprecedented sales”.

The club have all but sold out of tickets that were made available in all parts of the stadium apart from some areas of the north-west corner, which were being kept back until consultation with the TV companies, some areas of the TL Dallas Stand and parts of the ground previously unused, such as A block of the main stand.

Midland Road is also for use of Reading fans only, although City will wait to see if they return some of their allocation which is not sold hopefully early this week.

The club said in a statement tonight: “Once we’ve been able to tally up on Monday all the tickets that will be available, they will be ring-fenced purely for season-ticket holders who find themselves without a ticket.

“We are confident that we will fulfil demand for all season-ticket holders, even if that means foregoing some of the banqueting obligations and restricting tickets for players and sponsors.

“There are ways and means. We did not sell out of Sunderland tickets and they had to go on general sale.

“We are aware that tickets are being sold on various other websites and online methods. We would strongly advise people not to buy from these.

“Any online purchases from these that weren’t limited, the club have the right not to send the tickets out and they will be made available instead to genuine fans.”

Online sales will be postponed until further notice. All season-ticket holders without a ticket are urged to contact the ticket office.