Fans blow whistle on price of

Gillingham Fc match day ticket prices have been shaved by just Pounds 2, despite the team's relegation to the lowest tier of the Football League.

At their cheapest, bought online in advance, Gills tickets will cost Pounds 20 next year. Last season the average ticket price in League Two was just over Pounds 15.

Daniel Hazelden, 29, a media analyst of Landrail Road, Lower Halstow, said: "I probably would go to see more Gillingham matches. But twenty quid really makes you think twice.

"I went to see Newcastle play Sheffield United in the Championship this year. My ticket was only Pounds 20. There were plenty of players who are at the World Cup. If you are watching that standard of football and it costs the same to watch Gillingham there is something wrong."

Treasurer of the Gillingham Independent Supporters' Club Darren Keating, 43, said: "I would rather go shopping for Pounds 20. People are not going to be able to pay Replica Replica Oris Watches Watches more money for lower division football."

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Wycombe Wanderers, who were also relegated to League Two, have frozen their season tickets to Pounds 280 at their cheapest, with an early bird offer of Pounds 245. In contrast, a season ticket at Priestfield would have cost Pounds 290 in April. The cheapest currently available is Pounds 344.

Gillingham's nearest competition for fans, League One side Charlton Athletic, have season tickets for Pounds 240 in their more impressive 27,111-capacity Valley stadium. They also run bus services across Kent to ferry fans in.

Gills' average attendance last year was 6,335 in a stadium that holds 11,582.

Stephen Shepherd, who runs the Vital Gillingham fans' website, said: "We have never been a well supported club. Football needs to be more accessible and attractive to fans.

"It is frustrating, because you can see there is potential, with games like Leeds last season attracting a 10,000 crowd."

Mr Keating, of Robin Hood Lane, Chatham, fears attendances will drop even further. He said: "People vote with their feet. I would rather pay Pounds 13 more to see West Ham in the Premiership."

Mr Hazelden said: "Gillingham are a club struggling financially and not exactly packing them in at the turnstiles, so you would think generating match day revenue would be a high priority, but clearly not."

Unveiling the forthcoming season's ticket prices before the Gills were relegated, club chairman Paul Scally acknowledged "the current economic climate and the difficulties we accept many people are experiencing". Efforts were made to keep season ticket prices the same as the 2008/9 season, he said, for fans who Prada Replica Handbags renewed them early. On the club's finances, he added: "The club is on much stronger financial footings than it has been for many a year."

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