[madsteve]

MS!

You make some very good points, as usual.

I feel a lot of fans were expecting a wealthy businessman of DC's stature to invest first, then slowly bring prices up on the fans as we begin to succeed.
Raising prices to the extortionate (in some opinions) leaves the fans feeling like it is they whom are paying for the club to move forward. Not only that but we're an ex coal mining area in the North, we've massive pockets of working class families living on the bread line. As you said, you are fortunate enough to afford the price hike. I'm not saying you're unable to see the flip side of the coin because you've stated above you're understanding. But, surely it does affect your perspective? Not feeling mugged by the prices I mean.

It's too much too soon (for some of us) when we don't really know our Chairman. Only a fool expects gold to rain from the sky, but there has to be a median. Turning your fan base upside down and shaking their pockets out is a horrendous move as a new, unknown Chairman and supposed member of the community..

He's rich, he could've floated this for at least a season, this smacks of money and not football.. Something we've NEVER been about at S6

Some could argue we're not even about football

For me, it's not about whether I can afford it so I have a choice. However, if I feel that I am being mugged then I will walk away.

At the moment, I don't believe that is the case.

Say the matches are:

Category A - 1
Category B - 4
Category C - 4
Category D - 4
Category E - 4
Category F - 4
Category G - 2

Assuming that you are a member (be foolish not to be) then that is a cost (assume kop) of:

1 x £37
4 x £34
4 x £31
4 x £28
4 x £25
4 x £22
2 x £15

That is a total of £625 (£12 per week). That is not too bad. Even better, if you are intending to go to every match, you can get a ST to reduce the cost.

One other improvement on last season is that if you choose to go to the cheapest 18 matches of the season then there is virtually no increase on last season's costs.

Where the Club have fallen down badly is that they haven't explained the logic behind the new pricing so fans (aided by media reports highlighting the highest figures) have assumed the worst and reacted badly.

Surely someone from the Club needs to make a statement explaining the new structure and allaying fears.


I do appreciate that it is expensive to pay for a family to attend matches and wish junior discounts were bigger.

I am prepared to let the Club explain what is happening before I fly off the handle.