New season ticket freeze

SEASON ticket holders at Ipswich Town are to be offered another price freeze after the club's disappointing first season back in the Nationwide League.

SEASON ticket holders at Ipswich Town are to be offered another price freeze after the club's disappointing first season back in the Nationwide League.

Officials were today announcing a package aimed at tempting fans to renew season tickets, despite the club facing another season outside the Premiership.

Last year season ticket holders were told they would be able to buy tickets for the same price in 2003/4 – even if the club was in the Premiership.

Now that offer is to be extended to the year 2004/5 – the earliest it can realistically hope to return to the top flight.

And the club was also outlining a number of financial measures aimed at encouraging fans to renew season tickets – including standing orders or paying by cash or cheque.

The club will accept credit card payments, but is trying to encourage fans not to use them because card issuers have warned the club they will not release the funds up front.

Many fans use credit cards because they offer protection if the club was to fail to fulfil its fixture list.

Some card issuers have told the club they will only release the money it is owed as the fixtures are completed – denying the club the big close-season cash boost it would otherwise receive.

Last year 19,000 fans bought season tickets, despite relegation – and the club is braced for that number to fall off this summer.