COLCHESTER UTD have asked fans to be patient after phone lines were jammed by callers wanting tickets for the club's FA Cup replay against Coventry.On Tuesday long queues of supporters formed in Layer Road and staff stayed late into the evening to cope with the demand for the fourth round game.

COLCHESTER UTD have asked fans to be patient after phone lines were jammed by callers wanting tickets for the club's FA Cup replay against Coventry.

On Tuesday long queues of supporters formed in Layer Road and staff stayed late into the evening to cope with the demand for the fourth round game.

However, fans who were unable to get to the ground said they had tried all day to get through on the phone lines only for them to be constantly engaged.

Season ticket holders have until 5.00pm on Friday to confirm they want tickets before they are released on general sale.

With the Us also looking forward to the southern leg final of the LDV Vans trophy against Southend it means good news for the club's balance sheets.

Anne Dunn, a season ticket holder who lives in Ipswich said she was worried her family would miss out on next Tuesday's replay.

She said: “The ticket line was been busy from before 9am until after 6pm on Tuesday and then was busy again yesterday.

“I am a teacher and don't have all day to phone - I am just disappointed and think they should have kept the tickets available until Saturday when we could have collected them at the Tranmere game.

“We went on the coach to Accrington and it is just frustrating that all the fans come out of the woodwork and the season ticket holders are struggling to get them - we should be able to reserve them.”

A spokesman for Colchester Utd said: “The demand is liable to ease off so we would ask fans to be patient - the season ticket holders will have theirs reserved until Friday before they are released.

“It is a combination of the demand for tickets on all the upcoming games. Fans should keep trying, it is just one of the costs of our success.”

Tickets remain available for all the upcoming games including the FA Cup replay against Coventry.