£2million cost of promotion failure
FAILURE to get into the Premier League next season will cost Ipswich Town £2million, the club revealed today.The news came on the day the Blues rewarded season ticket holders for their loyalty by announcing they would honour their price pledge if they do achieve promotion.
Elvin King
FAILURE to get into the Premier League next season will cost Ipswich Town £2million, the club revealed today.
The news came on the day the Blues rewarded season ticket holders for their loyalty by announcing they would honour their price pledge if they do achieve promotion.
More than £13,000 fans will share a £2million windfall as part of a promise made last season, which could mean them watching the world's best in the Premier League for little more than £180 for the season.
However, Ipswich Town chief executive Derek Bowden today said despite the millions invested into the club by new owner Marcus Evans, the Blues can expect to make an operating loss of millions for every Coca-Cola Championship year.
“I would not go as far as to say that the Premier League with its television millions offers unfair competition,” said Bowden. “But it is the place to be.
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“We have to look up to it and admire the very strong global brand it has become. It provides everything a football club wants.
“If we were to go up next season we would sell out the ground. If we stay where we are then we can expect to lose another £2million in operations revenue.
“This is a reason why new season tickets holders will pay an increase of 5.7per cent, but that works out at 83p a game more than this season.”
This increase is more than other Championship clubs, and Bowden agrees that the priority has been to look after loyal supporters.
“Marcus Evans' investment has gone towards players - transfers fees and wages - and we have to still cover for the day to day losses of a Championship football club.
“He has made the Premier League goal more obtainable, but the club still has to be run overall as a business.
“Marcus has put his full weight behind the scheme to offer season tickets to Under-11's at just £10, and he has been party to the package that our fans are receiving today.”
