Early Bird window extended

Following meetings with the Pompey Trust and countless on-line petitions the club have relented and agreed to extend the Early Bird window to 28th April. There is no movement on prices however but they are to make efforts to be capable of taking card payments before the revised deadline.

The Official Site statement is as follows -

'Existing season ticket holders are to be given an extra four weeks to renew their seats at the early bird rate.

The club's board have responded to the concerns voiced by fans and decided to extend the early bird period until Thursday, April 28.

Seats will now go on general sale from Tuesday, May 3, when seats not renewed by existing season ticket holders can be claimed by other supporters.

Around 2,000 season tickets have already been sold for the 2011/2012 campaign.

The club remains in discussions with an alternative merchant service provider about allowing supporters to use debit or credit cards to purchase their season tickets.

Blues chief executive David Lampitt said: "We have listened to the concerns of fans and extended the early bird period for another four weeks.

"This longer time period ends on the final working day of April, addressing supporters` feedback about the need to incorporate another pay-day in the early bird window.

"We are working towards having credit/debit card payment options for supporters and expect this facility to be available before the early bird period ends."

A list of issues surrounding season ticket sales were last week raised by supporters and presented to the board.

Lampitt said: "The extension of the early bird period has been dealt with because that was the most important and pressing issue, but we know there are a number of issues that have been flagged up by fans and we will continue to give them consideration."

Currently seats can only be bought by cash, cheque (made payable to PFC Realisations Ltd) or by using Zebra Finance.

Supporters can either purchase their tickets by post or in person from the Frogmore Road ticket office.

2011/12 Season Ticket Prices:

Fratton End/South Stand/North Stand - Adult

First Phase: £450 - £19.56 per match

Second Phase: £499 - £21.69 per match

Fratton End/South Stand/North Stand - Junior

First Phase: £200 - £8.69 per match

Second Phase: £225 - £9.78 per match

Fratton End/South Stand/North Stand - Unaccompanied Junior

First Phase: £225 - £9.78 per match

Second Phase: £250 - £10.86 per match

Fratton End/South Stand/North Stand - Senior/Young Person

First Phase: £300 - £13.04 per match

Second Phase: £330 - £14.34 per match

Family Enclosure - Adult

First Phase: £340 - £14.78 per match

Second Phase: £380 - £16.52 per match

Family Enclosure - Junior

First Phase: £115 - £5.00 per match

Second Phase: £140 - £6.08 per match

Family Enclosure - Unaccompanied Junior

First Phase: £140 - £6.08 per match

Second Phase: £165 - £7.17 per match

Family Enclosure - Senior/Young Person

First Phase: £200 - £8.69 per match

Second Phase: £240 - £10.43 per match

Wheelchair Disabled

First Phase: £135 - £5.86 per match

Second Phase: £150 - £6.52 per match

Please note: Senior is aged 60 or over on or before September 1 2011. Young person is aged 17-22 on or before September 1 2011. Junior is aged 16 or under on or before September 1 2011.

Adult/senior/young person season ticket holders in the Family Enclosure must be accompanied by a junior.'

Commonsense

The club are 100% right in this move and the low take up to date shows that. We have had some heated discussions in the forum over whether it is right or not but there is no doubt that is needed more notice for fans to be able to plan what for some is one of their major annual items of expenditure.

The Trust and other fans groups wanted prices reduced too but the club say they are sticking to their business plan and need to raise prices to the level set.

A welcome move however at least for existing Season Ticket Holders.

PUP

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.