POLICING around Underhill football ground is set to be stepped-up this weekend ahead of a potentially explosive derby match.

The game between Barnet and Luton Town is regarded as a high-profile match by fans and authorities, as there are only about 20 miles between them.

But off-field tensions have heightened concerns around the fixture because many Luton fans hold Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous partly responsible for the 30-point deduction their club incurred at the start of the season — a decision which has ultimately led to the club’s relegation from the Football League.

The Barnet boss was part of the Football League board that decided on a 20-point punishment, on top of ten points deducted by the Football Association, for the team after they broke league rules while in administration.

Despite Mr Kleanthous claiming later the decision was not unanimous, saying he was not party to all the information before the vote, Saturday’s 3pm kick-off gives Luton fans their first opportunity to vent their annoyance against the club.

The fans forums are mooting the possibility of trouble in and around the ground.

One fan writes: “There is a lot of talk about how Luton are likely to come and smash up Barnet.

“Hopefully it is just ‘talk’, but we shall wait and see.”

On an unofficial Luton Town FC site, another fan threatens: “We’re going to destroy your poxy little ground.”

There were also rumours Watford fans, who are close rivals of Luton, were planning to attend the Barnet game to say “goodbye” to Luton, by giving their fans “a proper kicking”.

Barnet police say they have received no specific threats of planned trouble at the match, but the central Football Intelligence Unit has graded it a Category ‘C’ match — the second highest level of risk, which indicates there may be fans who “organise and actively seek out disorder”.

A police spokesman said the measures were due to footballing reasons — those being Luton’s relegated status, and the importance the match may have had to the footballing future of both clubs and the fact the teams are “relatively local to each other.”

Police patrols will be increased around the ground and the nearby High Barnet Tube station, but reinforcements are not being drafted in from the central Metropolitan Police.

The spokesman said officers were working closely with Bedfordshire Police to share information on any potential troublemakers.

Superintendent Neil Seabridge, will be co-ordinating policing on the day.

He said: “The vast majority of fans, both home and away, will be attending this weekend’s match as football fans.

“We are using our own intelligence to ensure anyone attending the match with the intention of causing trouble will be dealt with swiftly.

“Fans planning to attend should approach this game as they would any other and should rest assured that my officers will be present to calm any disorder.”