CRICKET chiefs at Trent Bridge are confident they are winning the war against ticket touts ahead of next year's Ashes Test match.
Notts County Cricket Club is furious that tickets sold for the five-day match next July are on internet auction sites at hugely inflated prices.
The Post previously reported that they have vowed to get the tickets removed and to ban people caught selling them from the ground.
Up to 600 tickets had been identified. Dozens have already been taken off sale.
A spokesman for the club said all tickets on eBay had been removed, while getmein.com had also agreed to remove all tickets.
However it is still battling to get tickets removed from other sites, like Viagogo.
When the Post looked yesterday, tickets were on sale for the first day of the game for as much as £679 – more than eight times the face value of £80.
Club chief executive Lisa Pursehouse said tickets found online will be cancelled and re-sold to those who missed out.
She said: "Some ticket re-seller sites are providing a marketplace in which individuals can breach our ground regulations, so we feel that we have to challenge them on behalf of our members and ticket buyers.
"Our message to genuine supporters is to resist the temptation to buy tickets from re-seller sites because it does perpetuate the problem."
Tickets for the match on July 10 to 14 next year, went on sale in October, selling out within hours. The club's ticket hotline saw huge demand, with some fans waiting for hours and thousands left disappointed and placed on a waiting list.
Auction websites allow people who have bought tickets for some sports and music concerts to sell them on.
It is illegal to do this with football tickets but not in other sports. It does however contravene ground regulations at Trent Bridge.
One of those who missed out on tickets, Tom Smith, 22, of West Bridgford, was pleased the club was taking action.
He said: "It is the right thing to do. Buying tickets for the sole purpose of selling them on for a profit is completely wrong.
"Those who do it clearly have no thought for those who want to buy the tickets because they love the game and want to see the Ashes Test match."
