Ipswich Town fans have been renewing season tickets in their thousands despite the disappointment of losing out in the First Division play-off semi-finals to West Ham, writes David Vincent.

Ipswich Town fans have been renewing season tickets in their thousands despite the disappointment of losing out in the First Division play-off semi-finals to West Ham, writes David Vincent.

Up to 1,000 applications a day were arriving at the ticket office last week, as the deadline for discounted renewals approached, and ticket office staff are now working through them.

Ticket office manager John Ford said yesterday: "It looks like we have had some bumper post bags over the past few days.

"We are probably a week behind where we were last year, due to the play-off games.

"We have still got thousands of envelopes to open. We have processed several thousand already and my view, on those opened and those still to open, is we are heading towards a similar position to last year.

"We have already sent out 6,000 to 7,000 postcards to confirm we have received people's applications."

Ford added: "I am pretty happy with the way things are going. We started last season with just over 18,000 season ticket holders.

"The difference is going to be how much new business we get through the summer. We will deal with all the straight renewals first, then move on to people who would like a move and new applications.

"Even last year we had some people who did not renew and other new applications."

Large numbers of fans were going for the pay-by-cheque option, with three cheques or a single cheque, he added, which was helpful for the club.

The signs were good for some big attendances next season, he said, in an attractive division.

Although Ipswich have lost their local derby with Norwich City, for a season at least, the clubs who have dropped out of the Premiership and arrive from the Second Division should bring significant support.

Last year Walsall, Wimbledon and Bradford City fans were sparse at Portman Road while coming up are Plymouth, QPR and Brighton.

And though Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace did bring large crowds so should Leeds United, Leicester City and Wolves, who replace them.

The new season kicks off on Saturday, August 7.