City will move 867 season-ticket holders to accommodate extra away fans for the Valley Parade derbies against Huddersfield and Hull.

Both visiting clubs will be given the whole of the Yorkshire First Stand on Midland Road for the matches - which are expected to smash the season's best crowd of 13,717 who watched Sheffield Wednesday in October.

Just under a quarter of City's 4,119 season tickets have been sold on that side. And those fans have been told to find alternative seats for the games on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, April 10.

In a letter to them, chairman Julian Rhodes said: "Our decision has been reached following a great deal of thought and we realise that it will come as a disappointment to many.

"Equally, we feel sure that most of you will appreciate the club's need to maximise the visiting turnstile revenue which these two fixtures will produce."

At the moment, away teams are given enough room for a maximum 3,500 fans. Handing over the whole of one side of the ground as well as the TL Dallas Stand will swell that figure to nearer 6,000.

The season-ticket holders affected can take their pick from seats available in both tiers of the Sunwin and Carlsberg Stands.

They have first choice on all home areas for both games until February 7. They can also buy additional tickets before they go on general sale from the following day.

City are also offering a sweetener with a £5 discount off any item from the Upfront Superstore or a home match ticket bought by April 30.

Sheffield Wednesday were given an extra section of the Sunwin Stand upper tier. But there were a couple of disturbances during the game - including a plastic bottle thrown from that area - and City feel that keeping opposing fans in the same area will lead to better segregation and security.