COLCHESTER United chairman Robbie Cowling insists their ticketing system is a 'safe and viable solution' for their fans to watch their team, this season.

U's supporters can start buying their CUFC Match Permits at the start of next month for the club's forthcoming matches in the 2021-22 League Two campaign, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

It is unclear how many fans - if any - will be allowed in EFL stadiums when the new season gets underway in August.

But Colchester have outlined what is available to fans with three different types of ticket options on offer - the Seasonal Match Permit, the CUFC Multi-Match Permit and the CUFC Single-Match Permit.

The first Seasonal Match Permits will go on sale online on July 1 to anyone who also bought one, last season (Priority One).

As part of the Priority One option, fans will be able to buy two 2021-22 Seasonal CUFC Match Permits per 2020-21 Seasonal CUFC Match Permit.

The Seasonal Match Permits will be available to four different Priority groups, over the course of next month.

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Writing in a statement on the U's official website, Cowling said: "The positive news is that the Permit system that we developed last season was not only extremely safe but was also very robust and very flexible.

"It allows us to work with whatever restrictions there are and if all restrictions suddenly get completely lifted only to be re-introduced again it can deal with that too.

"Finding that safe and viable solution was far from easy but I don’t believe any part of the permit system to be more complicated that it needs to be.

"So let’s continue by describing the products and when they will go on sale.

"For this season, once again, we can’t guarantee anyone will be able to buy a seat in their historic section of the stadium let alone the specific seat they may have sat in from the very first match at the JobServe Community Stadium.

"In fact, it is possible to be allocated different seats game on game. This has not been introduced to annoy anyone.

"We appreciate some of you were creatures of habit and as soon as we can return everyone to their old match-day rituals the better."

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Supporters will also be asked to know the exact name of the bubble they want to create or join when they buy their permits.

The bigger the bubbles are, the fewer seats the club will have to lose to create spaces between the bubbles.

Cowling said: "We have made it easy for fans to create or join a bubble when they purchase a permit because many of you will want to purchase separately but sit together as a bubble.

"Therefore, it’s vital that you know the exact name of the bubble you want to create/join when you make your purchase.

"We do generate bubble names when a bubble is being created but these are not exactly memorable so we have also allowed them to be edited to allow for more memorable names.

"Please agree a bubble name with those that you are going to sit with and share the name between the group before you all go on to purchase."

Cowling says Colchester are in 'decent shape' heading into the new season which starts on August 7, despite all of the repercussions of the pandemic.

He added: "The last 15 months have been very testing for all of us but all things considered we are in decent shape.

"Thanks to all of you that have supported the club during this most difficult of times.

"Every penny you have spent has been appreciated and the club is continually grateful."

For more details on U's tickets for the new season, visit https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2021/june/club-statement---202122-tickets/