Manchester United have been accused of using the lure of Champions League final tickets to boost executive ticket sales at Old Trafford. The Reds offered executive members a guaranteed ticket for the May 27 final with Barcelona if they renewed their home games membership for next season, reports the Manchester Evening News.

With around 8,000 executive members at United, who pay an average of £3,500 per season, ordinary fans had feared that up to half of the club's 19,000 allocation could have been snapped up by the 'prawn sandwich brigade'.

But the club has said that the offer, which expired on Sunday, resulted in only around 500 renewals.

An Independent Manchester United Supporters Association spokesman said: "It's disheartening that ordinary supporters who have followed the club home and away, including into Europe, won't get tickets because some tickets are being used as bait for people to renew their executive memberships."

But United said: "Priority will be given to season ticket holders who have applied for all the European away games. People who apply and fit the criteria will either get a ticket or be put into a ballot to get one."

The club refused to divulge details of how many tickets are being handed out to their own staff - believed to be about 500 - and to sponsors like Budweiser and Nike, saying: "We provide our staff with tickets, as we have done for 50 years. Companies which sponsor us will get an allocation, to which they are contractually entitled."