DARWEN have hit back at FC United after the breakaway club accused them of being 'greedy'.

The Anchor Ground club is expecting an all-ticket 2,500 capacity crowd as FC United and its army of travelling supporters come to town.

But the rebels slammed Darwen for refusing to allow concessions for the-all ticket match - and are considering making a formal complaint to the NWCL.

But Darwen chairman Kevin Henry: said: "The safety officer said he doesn't want a log-jam of people caused by checking concessions at the gate on the day."

Darwen are the first local side to host Karl Marginson's on its own ground - other clubs have switched the match to Accrington Stanley - after gaining special permission for the police.

But Saturday's game is a poignant one.

Darwen are one of the oldest clubs in the region, dating back to 1875, and their last league game was in 1899 against Newton Heath, who three years later changed their name to Manchester United.

However, despite the obvious distractions, manager Steve Mullen insists it's just another game.

He said: "In terms of finance, this has got to be the biggest match in the club's history.

"But as a football match, it is just another game with three points up for grabs. That is something I have to drum in to my players.

"None of them will have played in front of a crowd like this and, in my time as a player and manager at Darwen, I'll have never seen such an attendance."

The fixture will go down as the club's biggest since a record crowd of 6,500 turned up for a match against Chester City in the 1931/32 season.

The club has also brought in John Newsham, Blackburn Rovers' stadium manager, to oversee stewarding and police operations on the day.

"Ideally, I would like to just concentrate solely on football matters but I have been drawn in to the off-field preparations as well," added Mullen. "But as far as I can see, we have done everything possible to make sure it runs smoothly."

Mullen has ordered his players to turn up two hours earlier than normal so that they don't get distracted by the crowd.

He said: "We need to focus on the match and not the occasion. I want all my players to have their minds on the game and not on the crowd.

"I would hate it if we came off and there were certain players who let their nerves get the better of them.

"They are a good team and deserve to be at the top but I think we can get something out of this game but only if we concentrate on our performances."

Mullen has called on the experience of former Chesterfield defender, Chris Perkins, as cover for centre Cliff Power who is nursing a knee injury.