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Your views
As a minimum estimate there are 8000 adult season ticket holders. If all of them bought their season tickets in the cheapest possible area of the ground (i.e. Jimmy McIlroy lower) and before the deadline last year it would cost them £243 or £10.57 per game. Therefore taking this into account in the remaining four games Burnley Football Club has taken 11 months in advance gate receipts of £338,240 for these four games.
This is the reason why I am so angry about Barry Kilby's comments about saving the club £100,000, the REAL fans of Burnley Football Club have already stumped up hard earned cash to watch their club only to be stabbed in the back like this. The worrying thing is this could become the norm, if we become a mediocre 1st Division team this might happen every March.
Also even though the new season ticket prices aren't that bad in comparison to last year I still feel we are getting ripped off, as is every football fan in this country. We as a club aren't in financial trouble because of ITV digital it is because our players are getting paid ridiculous salaries and if the rumours I hear about certain players earning more than £10,000 a week it is nothing short of bad leadership from somebody.
Our wage bill was about £7,500,000 (I believe) last year and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where the problems are coming from. Our wallets however are where the cure always seem to be. I've been to every home game and 16 away games this year and will be getting my season ticket again next year .......... what a fool eh!
Steve Goodwill
If Barry Kilby thinks he has saved us £100,000 by loaning out our best player, he`s obviously not in touch with most of the supporters. I suspect this decision will upset a lot of fans.Ok, we only have pride to play for now this season, but not having Glen available to play against Preston because he is on loan is a disgrace. It only takes a few hundred fans to think they have had enough, and not renew their tickets to make this £100,000 saving disappear.
What is also worrying, is that Glen seems to be well up for this move. Read into that want you want....
Julie Turner
I don’t think the increase is so bad, I will be renewing our tickets. Not because I am happy about what is happening at our club, but because I’m a Claret and Blue through and through.
Meg Fawcett
Right. Finances are tight. Fair enough raise the price of season tickets. Its not too much compared to other 1st div clubs. Good value!
Good value? I think not. Will Mr. Kilby bear in mind we're not paying to watch other 1st div clubs play at the Turf we're paying to watch Burnley and unfortunately that means Mr. Ternent who may have achieved a promotion and cocked up the best chance of Premier league football ever last season ('we're going for it' says Stan. Forest at home 4-5-1) and many see him as the best manager we've had for a long time.
Can't argue in achievement. Waddle, splitter (Heath) etc. good competition? But entertainment get away. Value for money? Never. Stans route one football does not warrant an increase.
Its not Kilby's fault Stan wasted a million on I.Moore, 500K on Papa spent a million on Blake and all play in the position Payts is still the best at. This money could have been spent in the middle of the park so a good full back (Briscoe) wouldn't have to look poor playing out of position.
If money had been spent right we wouldn't complain at a rise coz we'd be in the Premiership, Sir Glen & all. I wouldn't trust Ternent with a penny of my money.
Ternent's football is not div 1 and is certainly not good ENTERTAINMENT value. That’s what its all about entertaining!!!!!!!!!!!!! So sort it Stan and then Kilby MBE won't have to offload the entertainers you sit on the bench in FA Cup Quarter Finals!
Rob Skeath
I am 62 and last year accused Andrew Watson of discrimination on oap prices. I visited all 1st div. web sites and there were many variation prices. I contacted The F.A. and their understanding was concessions for anyone with a pension book came under oap or senior citizens.A W’s reply was evasive and the matter would be looked at. When??????????. I go to many away matches and check the prices on the web. The last example was Walsall---- on their site it stated over 60’s the same match on the Turf web site stated over65’s .
BFC needs to get their house in order and stop fleecing their oldest and loyal supporters. I think I have paid more than my dues since 1957.
Glenys Potts
Once again Burnley FC have shown their true colours, they are not interested in the fans but, MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!.
With the season all but finished (besides the Preston game) BFC have once again upped the prices of season tickets. I remember this time last year when they announced the increase, "The extra income will be spent on new players". I'm still waiting! What will next season's increase be spent on?
The news on the Glen Little saga has all but finished me off, I had to inform my six year old son that one of his heroes had gone to Reading, you should have seen his reaction. I said to him "Don't worry son you'll be able to see him next Friday on the telly playing in the claret & blue, ups! sorry blue & white for Reading. This in my view is a disgrace, we have a game against Preston that means a lot to the fans and we have just loaned out our star player, good business isn't it!
Don't you think you've gone too far this time and taken the fans for granted? (yet again!)
Adie Starkie
Must admit I'm dithering........been a fan since I was 9 ..now 42.......season ticket for the past 12 years....also a Foundation Member..........but am I better off as a walk on Fan?
This Glen thing has hit me hard! Why am I paying up front but missing the only player worth paying to watch? If I was a Walk on Fan my season would also be over and I could watch Accy Stanley instead!!!
Peter Wilkinson
'Show your colours' there seem to be a lot of people showing their 'true colours' on this item. WHAT ON EARTH IS UP WITH YOU LOT !!
My season ticket has only gone up £20, I thought that was fine when you consider it is costing me another £110 in Council Tax for the next year and at least I get some pleasure out of my season ticket. I as a fan (and most will agree) need Burnley F.C. and the club need my (our) money so stop whinging and get that ticket bought before the discount ends.
Someone moaned about stumping the money up in April all at once, I manage to save it through out the year and I am on a low income.
Just to mention about Glen, I must admit I was annoyed when I first heard the news, but now it's up to the rest of the squad to pull their fingers out and start getting some results and its up to us the fans to get behind them. I have supported Burnley for over 40 years and what we have now is the best we have had for years so ' COME ON YOU CLARETS'
Steve Ashley
The Glen Little saga may be good business short term, but it hardly repays my loyalty to this football club long or short term. Ternent's season may be over but mine isn't, I have paid to see my club play and repay my support until the last game of the season, I have not received this from the club.
I will still be at the Turf next year for most games, but I won't give Watson the satisfaction of my money upfront for at least next season.
Own Goal Watson, I'm not the only one.
Daniel Kendall
I will be a walk on fan from next year for one very good reason the staff (including team, manager and board) have given me no reason to buy a season ticket.
There will be fans who will buy season tickets out of sheer loyalty (maybe Mr Watson will introduce a text message poll service 50p and guess the number of season tickets sold, nearest one gets a meal at the burger stand outside the ironworks on a Saturday night), but with no money for new players, an ageing squad and a manager with no interest in giving youth a run I’ll pick and choose my games.
Andy Parker
I would like to say that I am extremely disappointed, enraged and upset by the club's decision to allow one of our STAR players to leave the club on LOAN!!!!!!!!!! As a paying customer (season ticket holder in the upper longside) and paid upfront last April am I not entitled to watch Burnley FC (a team that I have supported for nearly 30 years) field their strongest side??????
You may think the season is over (through your lack of investment), I however have paid in good faith to watch a few more games yet, do I now get a refund????
The club's financial plight is well documented, very well documented, the lack of business sense is astounding, I believe that you are in the entertainment business, you have allowed a great entertainer to leave the club, how can this be right?
The club is on it's knees in every sense and your latest act has done absolutely nothing to encourage me to invest in you next season, I am thoroughly disgusted.
In my opinion the gates are down due to the high prices at the turnstile, an economically weak town and a vitual absence of any investment in the club on the player front, new faces on the pitch create interest, instead you released a staggering number of players and have only brought in one (good signing though).
I really do think that you have let us down!!!
Jon
The prices are not all that bad when you compare them to some of the other established Division 1 clubs.
The loaning out of Glen Little isn't as bad as some people make out either. What have we left to play for ? Nothing. If 50 points is all we need for Division 1 survival then i think one point from our remaining games is quite an easy task and if we can save a few quid in the process then whats the problem with that?
This board has not let us,the fans, down yet. When they do thats the time to start moaning.
We are still in Division 1, we will still be in Division 1 next season and we will be at least £100,000 richer so whats the problem ?
How can they ask for you to buy next seasons ticket with discount before the end of the season when we don't know who's staying and if we are actually going to sign any one in the summer?
I am seriously thinking of not bothering unless the club come out and tell us what the plans are for the next few years. We keep claiming wev'e no money but we don't hear any other clubs banging on about ITV digital If Kilby and other chairmen had read the contract we might not be in this mess.
John Lloyd
I think the prices are reasonable. But before I decide whether to renew, I'd like to know whether we plan to sell Glen Little and Robbie Blake in the Summer.
Steve Blackburn
In nearly thirty years of supporting Burnley, my enthusiasm has never waned - until now. Now before anyone criticises me, let me say that as far as bad times have gone, through the 80s especially, I was there. Young and impressionable, but always up for it. Maybe it's a bit of an over-reaction, but over the last 12 months I have come to ask myself why I bother.
The Glen Little episode, for me, is the final straw. It may well be good business for another club to pay his wages for a few months, but, with all the injuries and the odd suspension looming, what kind of side are we to field in the one match that has any meaning in the final games? (Preston).
Local pride is at stake, and that means a lot to those who are dyed in the wool. I have paid out for my season ticket, under the impression I can watch the best side that Burnley can field in every game. This however, is no longer the case. I really am disappointed with the way things have gone over the last three weeks or so, but this has put the lid on it. Preston must be rubbing their hands in anticipation. Me? I don't know.
I've had all the enthusiasm sapped out of me, and I really am thinking of jacking the game in. As far as renewing my season ticket goes, I doubt it. This club makes me feel like a second class citizen.
"Thanks for your money, now bugger off!"
HappyClaret
I'm curious how the club plan to attract 'walk on' fans when they've raised the price of the cheapest match day ticket.
I would also have preferred the club to extend the discount period as surely they'll have budgeted for 10,000 or so buying their season ticket so why not give people more of a chance of getting the relevant money together by allowing the discount period to be extended till at least the end of May.
Overall can't grumble too much.
Mark Pearson
Certainly, the price rise for season tickets is less than I had anticipated, but greater than I wanted. Watson's "Fleece The Fans" policy is still in place and I feel the club are unable to empathise with their supporters.
Whilst the loaning of Glen Little to Reading can be viewed as a business decision, it is actually a direct slap in the face to all season ticket holders who, by definition, have already paid to see Burnley field their best team. Increased prices and disdain for existing season ticket holders will do nothing to increase the fan base.
Watson is a highly paid chief executive. I was hoping that he could apply some imagination to the situation. Apparantly his thought process extends no further than asking the fans to pay more money. Certainly, some of them will. But some will also decide that picking-and-choosing of games is now the better option.
Steve Winkley
I appreciate that some of the virtues of holding a season ticket include retaining the same seat for the entire season, entry to reserve fixtures and first dibs on away/cup tickets. But purely on a 'watching Burnley at the Turf' basis a season ticket in the Upper Harry Potts Longside next season if you can't scrimp and save and convince the wife by the end of April is £430. There will be 23 games at the Turf next season and for those choosing to attend all 23 by paying at the gate it will cost them the princely sum of £437 (23 at £19).
Therefore, unless you are buying the season ticket to take advantage of all the above listed added bonuses, you are saving a whopping £7. Also, as a committed season ticket holder you are then bound to every fixture. Illness, work commitments, holidays and the form of the team (!!) cannot seemingly be permitted to get in the way of your attendance to reap the benefits of paying for that little plastic coated book of tickets.
And, as a sidenote, if the club can afford the risk of the pre-April 30th discount price being snapped up by potentially 10000+ fans, then surely, having factored that eventuality into their budget, that could and should be the post-April 30th price too......
Secondly, and more succinctly, I find it a little ridiculous that two 15 year old lads who want to go watch their team can't purchase Junior season tickets for themselves because their parents aren't prepared to go with them and pay £300-£400 to sit next to them. Interestingly though it seems that these two 15 year old lads can go to the Turf week in, week out, and pay on the turnstile to watch their team unaccompanied. Of course then its going to cost these lads around £200 each to do so rather than £65.
Graeme Parker
Your fans behind the goals have been hit hardest again for match days for the second season in a row. The reason is so they can increase charges for away fans. They are retaliating for having been done for over charging.
PNE Fan
What worries me is Andrew Watson thinking he can get away with anything. Remember the price freeze a few years ago when there had been a massive increase? This time he says that prices have been frozen in the James Hargreaves to bring into line the number of free games each season ticket holder gets in the various stands.
This is NOT true. It is still just over four free games in the James Hargreaves Upper (no change from last season) reaching up to over 6.5 free games in the Jimmy McIlroy Upper.
I will continue to select my matches rather than buy a season ticket until our club finds itself a Chief Executive who can actually tell the truth.
David Shaw
[Checked this out and as Mr. Shaw says the number of free matches in the various stands has hardly changed with those in the Harry Potts Longside still getting a poor deal compared with other stands. – Editor]
How can anyone grumble (Little notwithstanding)? Price increases are minimal and in fact there is an actual price freeze in the James Hargreaves upper and lower. Any increases are less than a pound a game. It's still bloomin' good value especially if bought early.
This is not a kick in the teeth. Only the timing of the announcements and the Little loan is not exactly fortunate is it? The business side of me says yes Little has to go, the football side is outraged. I'm one of the idiots forking out nearly £400 to fly to Norwich to help the club, and sponsoring a matchball for the Gillingham game and believe me I'm no millionaire.
Initially when I heard the Little news I wanted to phone up ranting and raving and demand my money back, then logic took over. You can't separate prices and Little. And we are now paying the price of the gamble on Gazza and Johnson last season which don't forget we all applauded at the time.
David Thomas
The news on season ticket prices is, perhaps, better than expected. The club did have the opportunity to make up some of the shortfall through the hard hit supporters, but have wisely chosen not to do so.
The unfortunate situation with the quality of football on the pitch is that it has come at precisely the wrong time of the season as far as prospective season ticket sales are concerned. The attendance figures announced at each game indicate an alarmingly large percentage of pre-paying season ticket holders who have, for one reason or another, elected not to attend. There will always be a number who cannot make it for legitimate reasons, but the increasing number suggests apathy creeping in at a fast rate.
The decision to release Glen Little will also have a detrimental effect on season ticket sales as there is no indication coming from the Board at this point in time as to whether cash will be available for team building. I fear that loaning Glen to Reading suggests that his days are numbered. He is a high profile player and, whilst he has not been delivering his best, along with a number of others, he is a player that people will pay to watch.
Desperate measures from the Board to save cash is the message here, but will it be cost-sffective come April 30th. I feel that season ticket sales will be severely hit by this move alone.
I would also make a point about the disappointing "walk on" attendance at each match. The full price of £19 per game in the best seats is getting beyond many people in this borough where a typical take home pay is around £200. That equates to 10% of income for a football match. If the casual attendance does not improve this next season, the Board need to think carefully about the measures adopted to increase the numbers. As a season ticket holder, I would not be happy to see too many matches subsidised for the non season ticket holders. £5 per game is OK for an odd match, but it will not be acceptable for more than two matches a year, otherwise our advantage in paying a considerable amount of money "up front" will be wiped out.
George Grimshaw
To be honest the rises are less than I thought they might be. Its also good that they are trying to ensure that all season ticket holders get a similar amount of free games - I never understood why it should be different in different stands.
We're in the JM Upper and with my 2 kids its still only £400 for all of us. I consider that to be pretty good value when you consider that it'd cost me probably more than that me alone at the "local" club at Elland Road. OK that's for Prem footy but it's still good value I think.
So we'll be showing the colours again next season although I am worried about how the news on Glen will affect ticket sales. Not ideal timing is it?
Mark Bailey