Stadium officials have defended exit arrangements designed to keep Huddersfield Town and Leeds fans apart after the big derby clash on Saturday week.

Despite speculation, Town fans will not be held inside the John Smith’s Stadium after the game.

However, home supporters will be prevented from going up Stadium Way towards the St Andrew’s Road car park until the Leeds fans have cleared the area.

The big West Yorkshire showdown is on Saturday, October 26 with a 12.30pm kick-off.

Town, stadium officials and police have drawn up an exit strategy.

They stress it is the same plan that has operated at the last three Town-Leeds fixtures.

It is rarely used except for the Leeds derby and officials say as it has worked in the past there is no reason to change it.

The coach park is said to be a potential flashpoint with hundreds of Leeds fans heading in the same direction as departing Town supporters.

Officials say Town supporters will be allowed to leave at any time and will not be held back during play or after the final whistle.

Town chief executive Nigel Clibbens defended the arrangements and said: “We acknowledge this is not ideal and thankfully it is rare. These decisions are not taken lightly and options are carefully assessed every year.

“We do not want to inconvenience and delay Town fans wishing to exit north to south especially those in the Direct Golf Stand and Fantastic Media Stand who park in the St Andrew’s Road car park.

“However, given all the alternatives, it is the least worst option and one designed to increase the safety of all fans and to reduce as far as possible, the potential for disorder.

“We have seen with other fixtures the restrictions, policing and stewarding is reducing this season, which is good for fans and the club.

“We all want a situation where exiting can be unrestricted. Being realistic and honest, I do think this will come about if supporters continue to improve their behaviour and we have no disorder year after year.”

Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd (KSDL) safety officer John Robinson apologised to fans for any inconvenience but added: “We hope fans will understand we are doing this to reduce the threat of public disorder and to get all fans away from the stadium as quickly and safety as possible.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The safety of all fans is our primary consideration and we have worked together with Huddersfield Town and KSDL to agree a safe exiting strategy on Stadium Way for a short time at the end of the game.

“This strategy has been used successfully on previous occasions and is proven to increase the safety of all fans and minimise disorder.

“As always the police will work together with stewards to keep disruption to a minimum.”

The exit plan is as follows:

Town fans will still be able to leave the stadium as normal and unrestricted via the north end towards Town Avenue car park, Bradley Mills and Leeds Road.

Fans can exit as normal from the Britannia Rescue Stand either south into the St Andrew’s Road car park or north towards the Town Avenue car park and Bradley Mills Road.

Town fans exiting the site south, up Stadium Way towards St Andrew’s Road car park will be prevented from doing so for “as short a period as possible after the game.”

Holding the 4,000 Leeds fans in the away end after the game was said to be “unsatisfactory” from a safety point of view.