Vi kan jo håpe at våre engelske venner får litt mer fornuftige priser enn i hva fjoråret startet med [}:)][}:)]
United fans: £500 is plenty
Phil Hay
THE Leeds United Supporters Club today insisted they would welcome a compromise with Ken Bates when United's chairman issues season tickets prices.
Leeds are preparing to confirm their admission charges for the 2007-08 season, and details of the costs will be posted out of Elland Road during the next 48 hours.
Bates has revealed that prices for United's first year in League One are set to be reduced following a term in which their charges peaked at £726 for seats in the East and West Stands at Elland Road, and Leeds are also expected to introduce Category C match-day tickets for a number of league fixtures.
Around 10,000 season tickets were believed to have been sold by United for the recently-concluded Championship campaign, and deciding next season's prices has been a fine balance between covering the club's operating costs and addressing home attendances which have fallen by an average of 9,000 supporters per game in the space of two years.
A spokesman for the Supporters Club, who claimed a £500 ceiling should be implemented by Bates, said: "We're obviously looking for prices that reflect the division we're in.
"Supporters have been paying Premiership prices for Championship football, and those sort of costs aren't sustainable in League One.
"But we're aware of the high running costs at Elland Road, and we understand that a certain level of revenue is needed to allow the club to sign quality players and to have a successful season.
"It's important that a compromise is reached - most supporters will probably expect and be willing to pay more than most in this division, but only to a point. If the prices are too high, there's a real risk that more supporters will be driven away."
The costs of adult season tickets for other clubs in League One range from £250 at Carlisle United to £550 for the most expensive year-long pass at Bournemouth.
The top prices of Brighton and Nottingham Forest also clear the £500 barrier, while Brighton, whose stadium holds fewer than 9,000 spectators, are currently offering the most costly child's season ticket at £323
