THE scramble for FA Cup final tickets has stepped up a gear after one fan apparently shelled out an incredible £10,100!

Last month the Daily Echo revealed how tickets were going for around £1,000 on the black market for Saints' clash with holders Arsenal in Cardiff in ten days' time.

With the countdown truly under way, wealthy supporters are splashing the cash to ensure they can be there for the big day.

One mystery fan snapped up a ticket for £10,100 on an Internet auction site this week, just a day after bidding started at £200.

Saints' fans have been given 25,000 for the game, with 17,000 going straight to season ticket holders.

Some of the club's 22,000 members who have purchased tickets for at least six home games or FA Cup matches will also be able to get a prestigious ticket.

But with Southampton in the middle of cup fever, thousands of fans are being forced to take desperate measures to ensure they can get in on the act.

Nick Illingsworth, chairman of Southampton Independent Supporters' Association, said: "Tickets going for £10,000 is remarkable.

"You could afford to hire a helicopter for the day and fly above the stadium and watch it for that money.

"I would imagine it must only be one of the top tickets for the final as I know a lot of people are desperate to go to the final but I don't know many who would be willing, or able, to buy one for that much."

He said he still expected hundreds of Southampton supporters to decamp to the Welsh capital, with or without tickets.

"I know a lot of people will going up on the day, figuring if they don't get one they can still experience the atmosphere by just being there and watching it in pubs and on screens."

A spokesman for the FA said: "If tickets are being sold on the black market and are brought to our attention then we would be happy to forward that information to the police."

SEE PAGE 18 OF TODAY'S DAILY ECHO FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO SEE THE SAINTS IN THE FA CUP FINAL NEXT WEEK!