Partick put Celtic ticket allocation for Premier Sports Cup clash to fan vote as punters given two options

The Jags could do with the cash but have asked fans to decide how many tickets should be allocated with the Hoops come calling

Partick Thistle have asked their fans how many tickets Celtic should be allocated for their Premier Sports Cup clash.

The Jags host the holders at Firhill in their quarter-final clash on the weekend of September 20/21 after beating Ayr Utd 2-0 in the last round.

Brendan Rodgers' side secured their last eight spot with a 4-1 win over Falkirk.

Partick have been forced to cut back financially and a home draw against the Hoops offers an opportunity to cash in.

However, as a fan own club, punters have been asked to vote for their preferred option for the last eight clash, with many reluctant to effectively give up home advantage and fill the ground with Celts, regardless of the money to be made.

Option one would see just under 8000 briefs allocated to home fans, with Celtic given around 2000 for the Colin Weir Stand.

Option two would mean less than 4000 home tickets made available to Jags supporters in the Colin Weir and John Lambie Stands, with the visitors allocated just under 6000 tickets for the full Jackie Husband Stand.

A club statement read: "Our forthcoming Premier Sports Cup quarter-final with Celtic in September presents us with an exciting home fixture against Premiership opposition.

"But it also requires us, as a fan-owned club, to work together to decide on how to maximise the potential opportunities it provides us, both in sporting and financial terms."

"Previous games against Celtic have seen us house their supporters in the Jackie Husband Stand, and on occasion, also the John Lambie Stand.

"These decisions were taken to maximise ticket sales and to reduce stewarding and policing challenges.

"To give additional recent context, an average of 4,900 Thistle fans were in attendance across our two play-off matches last season.

"Under Option Two, allocating the maximum 3,950 tickets to our fans in the Colin Weir and John Lambie Stands allows us to sell out the Jackie Husband Stand to visiting supporters, maximising revenue while giving us a target to fill our home sections.

"By contrast, if we used both the Jackie Husband and John Lambie Stands for home fans but still sold only 3,950 home tickets, revenue would fall by around 40%, leaving just under 2,000 empty seats in home sections.

"Each additional unsold home seat would further increase the revenue gap between the two options.

"The consideration, therefore, is whether we believe we can sell 7,850 tickets ourselves, and be comfortable with making less money if there are unsold seats, or if the best option is to target 3,950 home sales and still have two stands full of our supporters."