Ipswich Town has said it will not be carrying out a wholesale movement of fans from some parts of the ground after a number of supporters were sent letters about their season tickets.

People sitting in Portman Road’s family areas received a notification about high demand for seats in those sections of the ground.

The letter said the club had “made great strides” in improving its matchday family offering, meaning areas of the stadium specifically for families were getting more popular.

It added it was not at the stage of turning away new customers, but action may be needed in the future.

It offered people who had adult season tickets in family areas – but did not always sit with junior family members as part of a family group – the chance to consider moving before the club reached the stage where it would have to enforce this.

Alex Pettersson, who sits in one of the East of England Co-op stand family areas, said while he and his 14-year-old son would not be affected, he was concerned it was distressing for some people who have held tickets in that area for many years.

He has started a petition calling on the club to change its mind.

In the letter he has written to the club Mr Pettersson said: “I can honestly say how bitterly disappointed I am in the club’s attitude.

“Many of the season ticket holders that I sit near have been so for many years – decades, some of them.

“At the Leeds United game I spoke to many older fans, some of whom were in their 80s, and who had been sitting in the same area for over 60 years.

“You as a club are causing these people to feel anguish and distress.”

In the letter the club said the issue was one which could arise in the coming seasons, not immediately, and that it wanted to investigate instances of ‘orphaned’ single seats and that it was aware of junior tickets being purchased, but not used.

A spokesman for the club said: “The letter was sent out to reiterate the club’s intention to accommodate families with children in the family enclosure.

“We do have limited space available now in the family stand, for a number of reasons and that is a situation that may have to be addressed at some stage.

“If changes have to be made, they will be carried out as fairly as possible with each individual case judged on its merits.”