IPSWICH Town have been accused of ripping off their fans after introducing extra charges for them to buy tickets by debit or credit card.The Blues, who sold almost 2,000 fewer season tickets this year, have told fans buying on an ad hoc basis that they must pay an extra £1 on top of the normal match ticket price if they do not use cash.

By Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town have been accused of ripping off their fans after introducing extra charges for them to buy tickets by debit or credit card.

The Blues, who sold almost 2,000 fewer season tickets this year, have told fans buying on an ad hoc basis that they must pay an extra £1 on top of the normal match ticket price if they do not use cash.

The charge applies even if supporters go to buy tickets personally at the club shops in Bury and Ipswich, or the main ticket office at the ground.

A number of supporters were furious when they went to buy tickets for the season opener against Sheffield Wednesday and the away game at MK Dons next week.

Angry fan Martin Swallow from Bury St Edmunds said: “This is just ripping the fans off again. We didn't know about the charges until the weekend when my partner went to buy a ticket for the Lower North Stand, which usually costs £22.50 but they wanted an extra £1.

“It is not even like it is a one-off because it will be for every transaction.

“We go to away games as well and over the season that is going to add up to quite a bit.

“Crowds are going to be low anyway and this will put supporters off even more at a time when the club needs all the support it can get.

“In Bury we were told a lot of people were unhappy and many just turned round and didn't bother.

“My advice to other fans is if you are going to buy tickets then pay by cash.”

Andrew Redfern, the Ipswich Town Supporters Club chairman, said: “It is annoying when the costs occur, for example booking a pop concert, but that is usually a one-off. For a football fan who is not a season ticket holder but goes to a fair few games through the season it will be particularly frustrating.”

Andrew Goulborn, Ipswich Town commercial director, said: “Ipswich Town has covered the costs involved in debit and credit card transactions for many seasons but has now had to make a charge to cover the costs imposed by the banks.

“For away games, we sell tickets on behalf of the other club and the £1 per ticket charge is to cover the direct transaction and postal charges incurred by the club. For home tickets bought using cards we are charging £1 per transaction. All transaction charges are waived for Ipswich Town Gold, Silver and Junior Blues members.

“The introduction of these booking fees was first published in our season ticket brochure earlier in the year and has now brought us into line with most other football and sports clubs.”

Despite the extra cost, the Blues are still hoping 25,000 fans will be at Saturday's season opener.