The seller calls it 'an opportunity for any true West Ham supporter'

The �245 room was booked at Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort near Cardiff before being offered by a seller on eBay.

Hotel managing director Stephen Leeke - also a Hammers fan - said he could see how "frustrating this must be for genuine fans."

The auction ended on Thursday. West Ham play Liverpool on Saturday, 13 May.

The four-star hotel is popular with teams staying ahead of big matches at the Millennium Stadium.

'Blatant profiteering'

All 143 rooms, costing �245 a night, were sold out within hours of the London team making it through to the final at the Millennium Stadium.

Mr Leeke, said: "We're delighted West Ham have chosen to stay at the Vale and it is great news that we're so much in demand.

West Ham celebrate the winning goal to reach the final

"However, we can't condone people who buy rooms in good faith and then re-sell them on eBay at inflated prices and we appreciate how frustrating this must be for genuine fans."

The director of marketing at the Vale hotel, Paul Beddoe, said the bids made by people using anonymous names on eBay made it "difficult to regulate" and was a sign of the times.

"The only thing we can do is distance ourselves from it - at the end of the day - it's blatant profiteering."

He added the bids were an indication of how far enthusiasts would go to support their team.