CONFIDENT Ipswich Town fans are showing their faith in Joe Royle's side by snapping up season tickets in their droves, writes Derek Davis.More than 12,000 have already been sold and with the discount deadline closing tomorrow night the Blues are hopeful they will hit the 15,000-mark over the weekend.

CONFIDENT Ipswich Town fans are showing their faith in Joe Royle's side by snapping up season tickets in their droves, writes Derek Davis.

More than 12,000 have already been sold and with the discount deadline closing tomorrow night the Blues are hopeful they will hit the 15,000-mark over the weekend.

Supporters who take advantage of the club's Early Bird scheme can save around 17% on their season ticket cost, compared to what they would pay after the cut-off.

Town chief executive Derek Bowden last night revealed that an early indication of how well sales were going would help Royle plan for next season earlier.

He said: "We had a later cut-off point last season so we can already see with 12,000 sold with a couple of days to go before the discount deadline that we are doing well.

"We finished with 18,500 last season and the figures so far bode well for the season. We put tickets on sale earlier so we can plan budgets earlier.

"Joe will know what he has for players in May before people go on holiday and can plan accordingly, whichever division we are in."

Other Championship clubs have increased price as much as 50% with little or no hope of Premiership football next season while Town fans will shell out between an extra seven to 30% on last year's price if Town go up.

Bowden said: "In line with other season ticket prices we have been very fair. With the football we have seen at Portman Road this year, the amount of goals and the excitement, season tickets have been great value for money."

Town fans have seen 69 goals and just three defeats at Portman Road all season.

The Blues are just one point from securing at least a play-off place and are joint second on points with Wigan, who have a better goal difference and currently hold the other automatic promotion spot behind Sunderland.

n STEVE McCall will know this morning what sort of team he can field tonight when the Blues Reserves take on Charlton, at Portman Road (kick-off 7pm).

Lewis Price, Dean McDonald and Gerard Nash are the only three players he can confidently name with Jimmy Juan and Drissa Diallo taking fitness tests this morning.

With the youth team playing last night and the first team playing on Sunday, McCall may call on some scholars once more.