Four members of staff made redundant as Ipswich Town ticket office closes

Four members of staff from Ipswich Town’s ticket office, including Ticket Centre Manager John Ford, have been made redundant as the club looks to increase its online sales.

The club’s ticket office on Constantine Road is now closed, although two full-time and two part-time employees will remain.

Fans will still be able to buy matchday tickets on the day of a game, although they will incur an additional charge of up to £2.50, and are being encouraged to purchase via the internet or at the club’s Planet Blue store, instead.

Town joint-managing director Ian Milne, said: “Going forward the club is committed to operating in the most efficient way possible and with the sale of tickets, our strategy is to focus on online sales, in line with the majority of football clubs and sport in general now.

“Inevitably that can lead to changes in personnel and we have taken the decision to streamline our ticket operation.

“We’d like to thank all those staff who have left us for their previous service to Ipswich Town and wish them every success for the future.”

Supporters purchasing tickets online must order at least 48 hours before kick-off in order to receive their tickets in the post.

Those buying online after the 48-hour deadline will need to use the print at home option or purchase in person at Planet Blue.

Fans paying on the day can buy tickets from the club’s Planet Blue store between 10-1.30pm for a 3pm kick-off and 10-6.15pm for a 7.45pm start, with payment by cash or card.

From 1.30pm onwards (3pm kick-off) and 6.15pm onwards (7.45pm kick-off) on matchday, tickets will only be able to be purchased on the turnstiles, by cash only.

The club are looking to have an ATM machine installed in Planet Blue in time for the Millwall game.

There will be no collections available for pre-purchased tickets at the stadium on the matchday itself, again reducing the need for further unnecessary queuing.

Meanwhile Town have unveiled their matchday ticket prices for the forthcoming campaign, with supporters being able to buy a ticket for the clash with Millwall, prior to matchday, for £21.

The game with the Lions, who are expected to bring 1,400 fans, is a ‘Grade C’ game. The cheapest ‘Grade B’ ticket is priced at £27.50 and ‘Grade A’ £32.

Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets from www.itfcdirect.com

Match information, sales dates and priorities along with match ticket pricing can all be found on the official club website, www.itfc.co.uk.

A ticket enquiries office will be open in Portman Road between 1.00pm and kick-off on matchday (3pm kick-off) and 5.30pm and kick-off (7.45pm).

This will be for enquiries only, servicing fans’ needs to upgrade or reprint lost tickets. No tickets will be sold from this office.

The ticket office enquiry telephone line will be open from 9.00am until 12.00 midday, on weekend matchdays, and 9.00am until 4.30pm on midweek matchdays.

The enquiry line will be closed on non-matchday Saturdays.