United act to boost attendance

UNITED fans were able to pay on the gate in last night’s Champions League tie at Old Trafford.

The club decided to open turnstiles at the Stretford End (West Stand) and East Stand in a bid to boost the attendance beyond the 60,000 mark.

Red Devils officials have struggled to sell out Champions League group games in past seasons and while this latest concession could be seen as further evidence of waning interest in the game as a whole, Lille’s poor box office appeal is also a major factor.