The Trust is encouraged that the club has listened to our views that top priority for any pricing initiatives for next season needed to focus on attracting the next generation of fans. By introducing an adult & child special rate, expanding the U16 bracket to U18 while reducing the price to £125 and with student related match promotions, the club has certainly delivered.
Extending the Direct Debit to run for a full 12 months has also been requested by the Trust for several seasons, it’s a shame the club continues to hide behind a £4 per month admin fee, we all know it doesn’t really cost that, rather than openly say an interest charge applies (but there may be an alternative more cost effective instalment solution for fans who are struggling during these credit crunch times – see later in this article).
However the local headline of price freezes, conveniently ignores that the Chancellor’s 2.5% VAT cut has again not been passed on to fans. This perhaps many fans would accept, but for those fans not paying until May 09, the club is in effect asking to receive 17.5% more than they did for the same seats last year, which is a considerable hike.
While ensuring existing Season Ticket holders get the best deal, the club also needs to lure back some of the former season ticket holders lost over the last few years and attract new ones, at a time when daily headlines about credit crunches and job losses continue, this increase could easily put them off…..
At a recent fans meeting, one of those present suggested the club should offer a couple of free tickets for this season for new/former season ticket holders buying early for next season. This view got much support from fans present and should be given serious consideration.
At the same meeting the club made it quite clear that they appreciate it is a very hard balancing act between attracting fans on a match by match basis versus still strongly rewarding (long suffering) season ticket holders who make a commitment in advance of the start of the new season (well in advance in this case). This is especially hard if results on the pitch aren't good enough to attract the casual supporter. The message from the club was clear that they would welcome consideration of any alternative suggestions from fans regarding the setting of the price of season tickets and match day tickets and the associated discounts and offers that should/could be afforded to ensure the Walkers is packed out on each match day.
So if you have any alternative suggestions feel free to run then past us, but equally so we are more than happy if you would like to express your suggestions directly to the club.
And finally
An alternative solution to the expense of a season ticket during credit crunch times based on my own personal experience ……
I've logged on to Barclaycard and applied for the Football Credit Card via the following link:
http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/cards/football/index.html
Amongst other deals for football fans the company claim to offer ‘0% interest on football season tickets (purchases over £250)’ on this no annual fee credit card. In the small print it appears to get better when it states ‘until the balance is paid off in full’
So far the on line application has been painless and simple (subject obviously to satisfactory credit rating) and the credit card has duly arrived. All I am awaiting now is my PIN number (although if I applied to the club on line obviously I would not need this) and then I’m off to buy my 2009/2010 season ticket.
One ‘catch’ is the handling fee the club charge for credit card payments which is (1.7%). For a kop or family stand adult priced season ticket equates to £5.47 on a renewal and £5.75 on a new season ticket. Assuming you opt for paying in instalments this could work out significantly cheaper than the £4.00 per month ‘admin’ fee levied by the club.
Not wishing to promote products that have not yet even been tried and tested via our website, I was initially reticent to mention this, but in the end I felt in appropriate to let you know how I intend to fund my ticket next season and leave you to draw your own conclusions as to whether or not it would be a good option for you also. I hope it helps and neither you nor I encounter any additional ‘small print’ further down the line!