'SMACK IN THE FACE' Final insult to our fans - Elstone: ELSTONE IN RAP FOR FA.

Byline: DOMINIC KING

ROBERT ELSTONE today accused The FA of hindering Everton's attempts to grow their fan base as he slammed the club's Cup final ticket allocation.

The Blues have been given 25,109 tickets for the clash with Chelsea at Wembley on May 30 but chief executive Elstone is adamant they could have sold double that figure.

"It is clear to us that 25,000 is a hugely inadequate figure, it is so disappointing and we really feel for our fans," said Elstone.

"It is a smack in the face for everything we are trying to do both in terms of growing our fans base and growing as a business.

"It is inevitable that too many tickets are now going to end up in the wrong hands and while the FA try to close these outlets down, it only happens after the event..

"It all smacks of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Unfortunately, there was no scope for negotiation when we met with the FA.

"Promises have been made already about where the other 40,000 tickets are going and I suspect they have been posted. All we can do is express our immense disappointment.

"We only hope that when we return in 2010, the FA will have been able to redress this situation." Evertonwill initially sell their allocation to season ticket holders who have been to three or more additional games and Elstone says the club has tried to reward loyalty. "Loyalty is not something that is easily interpreted," he said.

"Fans who don't have the economic capabilities to buy a season ticket but go to every game are just as loyal as season ticket holders. "We are just trying to maximise our allocation as reasonably as we can. "Many will miss out but there is very little we can do in the circumstances forced on us." Meanwhile, Phil Jagielka will undergo an operation tomorrow in London to repair the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

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DISAPPOINTED: Everton chief executive Robert Elstone