As of January 1, only club members will be permitted to buy tickets for block L34 of the East Stand – the family stand – in a move that is hoped will see an end to anti-social behaviour in the section that has seen so-called fans regularly taunting away followers and refusing to sit down.

But with memberships costing £50 for adults, the move comes with a risk that the seats will remain unfilled, and attendances will dip.

United, however, clearly see it as an acceptable gamble, with the potential pay-offs significant.

A statement from the club read: "The decision has been taken in the full knowledge it could lead to a reduction in the attendances a Elland Road but is a necessary step to try and improve the overall conduct of an increasing minority of supporters who have been using block L34.

"This area has seen supporters congregating who are persistently standing and goading visiting supporters.

"This subsequently affects the enjoyment of many genuine supporters who also sit in the stand.

"We apologise to any supporters this change of policy affects. if the matter is not dealt with now then it is our belief that our police charges will be increased to ensure that there is no disorder emanating from this area and we will lose genuine supporters who are not able to enjoy the game."

Should trouble continue to break out in the stand after the new policy is invoked, it should prove easier to weed out the instigators based on the information supplied in the booking process.

Under the new rules, which come into force from the New Year's Day match against Oldham, adult members can purchase up to two tickets, as long as one is for a child.

All seats in the block will therefore be family price including junior tickets for £8 and adult prices from £15 to £21 dependent on the category of the game.