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YOUR VIEWS

UPDATED FEB 5
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premiership prices let have premiership football. never mind big money plans for the surrounding area at elland road .spend the money on the squad.. get in to the premiership and i am sure all the sponors that will roll in will help develop the elland road complex.....do us all a favour ken and let someone who is interested in leeds united football club take charge... top flight football speaks volumes as we all know, so lets sort that out first. if you want hotels before the premiership i suggest you have a game of monopoly..

big al in birstall

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We are funding Bates ambitious plans to build onto Elland Road so he can sell the "Business" at a profit when its all built. We are not funding a fight to return to the top flight.

Return to the top flight should be a priority. Its what the fans want isn't it?

T,Leeds fan

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The prices of season tickets for L.U.F.C are going up again, why????????????????????????????????????? - We're the best supportive team in the league but why couldn't they just
freeze it as a gesture to the loyalty of the fans?
TOMMY FROM OLDHAM EX BOYS PEN.
P.S MR BATES WE DONT HAVE LONDON WAGES.

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All Ken is bothered about is building hotels - he does not care a jot that we have to pay premiership prices for third division football. As long as somebody pays he does not care if you have supported the Club all your life and the increases are becoming unaffordable. I dont and neither does my son who is an adult, want to give up our seats but Mr. Bates is testing our resolve to the full.
Now I read that Thompson has gone on loan and Derry has been sold - what next is it that Ken has told Dennis to get rid of the high wage earners and bring in some nondescripts who will accept peanuts!.
As much as Kilkenny, Johnson and Sorsa have the potential to become top players, surely we need the experience of the Thompsons of this world to get us through this difficult period.

Ralph Chesterfield

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I have a season ticket for this season.

The reported price increase is unacceptable and I will not be renewing.

I would argue it is better to have a vibrant well attended stadium than a half empty ground with the supporters feeling as though they have been ripped off.

Stephen Price
Rhuddlan, N. Wales

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I think they are extremely unfair with the possibility that again, we may be playing League 1 football next season. My ticket itself has only gone up by £25 at the early renewal, but for the older supporters it is almost an insult after the huge loyalty shown to the club after the summer we had. The club would have been better saying you get the difference between next seasons ticket and this seasons ticket in club shop vouchers if we stay down.

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Yes here we are fleeced again. But we'll pay it! They tug at your emotions by using terms like "by booking early you'll be doing your bit for the team" and people fall for it. I think if we go up the price rise is to be expected, but if not we already pay over the top prices to watch 3rd tier football we shouldn't be asked to pay more.

Dave Everall Rothwell

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Uncle Ken is gambling on promotion. He has threatened a 10% penalty if renewal is not made by March 1st. That for me is an extra £40 if I wait until 28th April. However travelling up from Kent for every home game (not including the away games) costs me at least £2,500 per season. I for one am prepared to wait to see what division we are in because there is no way I am going to continue travelling 500 miles to every game to watch 3rd division rubbish in a stadium which will be a quarter full. So I am prepared to gamble £40 to save £3,000 next season. I am sure Uncle Ken would do the same in my position.
Sadly I can see us rotting in the 3rd division. Lets not forget that Uncle Ken and Dennis Unwise took us to the lowest point in our history, and we haven`t reached the bottom yet!

Sniffer

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Bates is just a greedy chancer with no real passion for the fans or the club only his fat wallet and his luxury lifestyle in Monoco. BATES OUT

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What do we have to do to make Batesy understand the fundamentals of Leeds United ?
Does he think that just because we've had a run of luck, got a reasonably promising looking striker, and had a few good crowds, that he too can fleece us ?
Come on Ken, we might be from up North but we're not completely stupid !
We've achieved nothing yet, Wisey's done great so far, but there's a long way to go, and as for yourself, don't think anyone on the terraces is 100% sure that you're as committed to LUFC as we are.
Show us you want us on your side, we proved to you last season that if you dropped prices, fans would show their support, hike them back up and people will vote with their feet.
I will re-new what ever the price, but consider myself fortunate to be able to do so, I know a lot of my mates won't, unless we are guaranteed promotion.
We've taken a lot of stick from opposing fans since our fall from grace, all we want to do is get our team back where they belong. Show us you understand this.
Get the fans back to Elland Road with realistic League 1 prices,
We'll fill Elland Road if you play the game, get too greedy, and you can whistle !!

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I think that the price increases are a complete kick in the teeth for the loyal Leeds fans. Whilst I am aware that Season Ticket income does provide valuable income to the club, I just think that Bates is alienating the fans by asking them to stump up another £400 plus within 8/9 months of them doing this - without knowing at the time that they had a team to watch, almost in blind faith so to speak, not disregarding the fact that he wants us to pay more for the privilege!!

At the very least Bates should have given existing Season Ticket holders a "price freeze" for their loyalty last season for the reasons above. How can any business ask for its consumer to stump up (with an inflatrion busting increase) when it does not know what the product is going to be!

On a slightly different note, it also annoys me with the club is their complete lack of interest in their future lifeblood - the kids. Why Leeds do not follow the likes Huddersfield and offer the kids for a quid scheme is beyond me (well it isn't but I dont want to bleet on about that now).

I like many fans, have had just about enough with Bates' pricing strategy. I can see many fans deciding not to renew next season, and can see attendances dropping below 20,000 once again. Leeds have probably lost at least 10,000 fans off the gate over the last few seasons, and I very much doubt that they will ever come back, and at this rate can only see this increasing.

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The club is about to sell its best player by far – Shaun Derry and expects the fans to pay Premiership prices to watch Division 1 players.

The management doesn't deserve the fans.

Brian

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Many people have much to say about "their" club. How they don't go any more, how they cant afford it, how Captain Birdseye has saved/ruined "their" club. How they are real fans? I didn't see many games last 2 season through ill health though I was one of the poor 7000 souls to watch Barnet in the cup.
Football is a results business. The indignation of the FA fifteen points decision put the bums on seats along with the relief that the club still existed. The run of results with Lady Luck coming back from her year long holiday of the previous season fuelled the fan base. The standard of football has not. After watching Oldham, Northampton, Crewe and Doncaster (total cost £75 and a couple of pints in the pub) I do not believe we are getting value for money. I do not believe automatic promotion is a viable proposition or we would be successful through the playoffs.The momentum in my opinion has been lost.
Captain Birdseye is an experienced, shrewd businessman. There must be a reason why he has not purchased the ground/training ground. His faith in his manager is unwavering. Weather this is blind faith will soon be revealed. His decision to advertise season ticket price hike through the match programme was a risk which backfired spectacularly with the result. The timing of the announcement when most people are skint from Christmas and trying to balance the years budget also seems folly.
Only an asset stripper would be interested in investing in the club now. The difference in revenue between league one and championship is as big as from championship to premiership. This is how far we have fallen. We are a league one club. We are not above the competition, we need to beat them at football. Captain Birdseye wants to get the club higher up the leagues for business reasons. You want them up where they belong for emotional reasons. A good result against Luton followed by a win at Southend and everything will be forgotten. Otherwise, the visit of Tranmere will be a barometer of the "real fans" support of "their" proud club. As a football fan, I wont be going to Elland Road again till they start playing football.

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Dear oh dear oh me…………..

When will Ken Bates realise that fans cannot afford the Premiership prices charged for League 1 rubbish football ? I have followed Leeds home and away for close on 37 years but cannot justify the prices charged. Last year I went to about 1 home game because it was all that I could afford, and as a matter of principle refused to pay the ticket prices. With the reductions this year, I have been to Elland Road and seen 7 games, all of which have been generally mediocre with little invention or creativity. With the proposed price rises, I will NOT be going again next year or future years either.

I am NOT on my own. I know loads of friends who say the same, they love the team, love the club but have been priced out of going to support the team that we grew up with. Can someone please explain when we have had the opportunity of large crowds, why has the upper East stand not been opened ?. Surely it would be better to REDUCE prices but fill the ground at every home game, than propose sky high prices that drive the fans away ? We are being charged Premiership prices for Conference quality football !

Looks like I am back to my faithful radio even more than usual for forthcoming games.

Alan – Leeds Till I Die

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I have to say the price increase for next year's season ticket is nothing short of profiteering.

When are these people going to understand that Leeds Uniteds fans are absolutely sick and tired of being dealt the short straw.

The minute the fans start to draw some solace from the results of the team, and the fighting spirit that is Leeds United, plus the horrendous way in which the club has been set about by the league, what happens? We are shafted from within.

Mr. Bates and co, should count themselves lucky, they have the support of such a loyal fan base, and reward their supporters, not shaft them the first chance they get.

They see the gates rising and think to themselves ...there's the goose that lays the golden egg lets put the prices up.

Many such decisions have been made in all sorts of business's only for the board to fall flat on its face by pricing themselves out of the market. "WE ARE LEEDS" not Chelsea, your hardly going to get the supporters behind you acting like this. The only difference between the Leeds United board, and Dick Turpin is that he used to wear a mask....

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Unbelievable how much the prices have risen and looking at it , it will be for third tier football once again
Oh dear just watch the crowds dwindle. Batesy isnt gonna make a mug out of me anymore. I paid just under £100 to take my son and his mate (both 12 year old) on Saturday to sit in some old wooden seats with diabolical toilet facilities etc - Yea this is the West Stand !!!!

Sorry Batesy but thats another 3 supporters you have lost through your policy of take,take,take and then the price increase before you know what league we are in. Remember without the supporters you would have sweet FA !!!!!

Kingy, Keighley

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I am one of the very few 20 yr season ticket holders and am now lucky enough not to have to fork out each season for my ticket - thank goodness!

However, i will be forking out another £180 for my daughters season ticket so i'm not immune to the ticket prices (although i'm lucky again that the cost of her ticket has not increased).

In my opinion the ticket price hikes (well over inflation) are a sign that Ken Bates has no more funds to invest and has no investors interested in the club. Instead he wants the loyal supporters (yet again) to fund the club.

He has announced the ticket prices earlier than usual, on the back of a good first half season and is playing the 'feel good factor' card.

Here's a question for you Mr Bates - Why don't you publish two sets of prices, a League One price and a Championship price. Let season ticket holders commit to next season with a deposit and the balance paid at the end of the season will depend on which division we're in next season.

I feel for the supporters who will have to pay what i believe are Premiership prices for (possibly) League One football next season.

A better option than increasing prices would be to stabalise prices and open the East Stand Upper to generate more income. I believe it's closed all season in order to save £80k. We could generate more than £80k revenue by part filling it for just one game, we should have opened it for the Huddersfield fans or make it the new family stand and make it dirt cheap for families to attend.

Here's hoping for promotion but not expecting it !
DL

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We had the Notts Whites meeting on Friday before the announcements of price increases. I was fortunate enough to sit next to Peter Lorimer and he reckoned Ken Bates has sunk £22 million into the club, so he has to get his money back somehow. Still cant get my head round him not buying the ground paying £40000/week rent, that is the equivalent of 6 or7 players wages, something stinks.

Mark Brinley

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Once again Ken Bates shows his lack of understanding of Leeds United fans. His "squeeze 'em 'til the pips squeak" approach does not take account to the fans who cannot afford large rises on the back of all the other essentials of life which are also soaring in price. I am a widow and I don't smoke or drink so I will trim the budget to the bare minimum because I love my team and want to keep my Season Ticket but if I had a young family to clothe and feed I might not be able to do that. The prices are very high for this division and at the moment we might very well be in this division at least another season which is why I suppose he wants the money before the final position is known despite the fact that this is just about the worse time to demand his money. It no good to try to talk to him he appears to think that anyone who disagrees with him is either a fool or a knave.

Sue Lynch

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I think it is a big gamble by Ken to both put the prices up and request the money in early.

I think the decision is fair but a little harsh. The reality is the major source of income for a league 1/championship club is through gate receipts. If fans want to see Leeds sign new players then they will have to pay for it. You can not knock the investment that bates has made recently with a number of new cash signings which is very rare for this division. However you can look at wise's signings and question wether they have been the right ones.

There is no question now that Wise has to get us out of this league at the very first attempt. Anything else would be catostrophic. It is important that the team starts to show some form to perswade fans to get their season tickets early as even in the championship some fans may be put off by the large increase.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the coming months….

Marching on together!!

James Vickers

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I've been a Leeds fan since the mid seventies, and am saddened that this latest price hike in Uncle Ken's realm, maybe a push too far?

We all understand, and have lived through what happened to get us where we are, with uncle Ken presiding over some of the darker days. Did he not see what happened last season when the prices went up? We stopped going!!!!

You will pay good money for a top product but not for an average one, (that might not even get to where it wants to be by next season) Imagine paying those prices to watch League 1 again?????

I go to games with mates to watch their teams play, and they laugh at the prices we have to pay at the moment! £30 to watch Donny Rovers in league 1. They are paying less than that to watch Championship and Premiership matches.

Leeds always used to be a place to go with a crackin' atmosphere and be reasonably priced, I've taken loads of mates to Elland Road who were envious of the atmosphere and low cost, (remember those great midweek European nights) now we are a laughing stock generating sympathy not envy.

Come on Uncle Ken be reasonable, we love our club but cannot afford these prices, don't price us out of Elland Road. Here's the warning…………High prices= empty seats.

Yorky,LLL

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Leeds fans seem to have unbelievably short memories.
The club nearly went bankrupt because of poor finances.
I will renew my season ticket for the 22nd year. Why?
Because its my team and it needs money to be successful.
Also we would be top if it weren't for the football league.
PS my ticket price next year is still less than 2006-2007 due to a price cut for this year.

Short memories indeed.

David Bradford


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We see it in the Premiership, right through to the lower leagues. I'm a Leeds fan, but have stopped going to games as much as I used to because I won't pay ridiculous prices to watch mediocre football. Please realise that the people who run football clubs are:

A) Business men who's only interest is a financial return on their investment in the club.
B) Not in the least bit interested in the welfare of football fan's.

As long as people will pay it, they'll carry on increasing prices. If you're stupid enough to pay it, you deserve to be ripped off. Look at what fans pay to watch world class footballers in countries in Europe, it's nothing like what we pay over here.

Don't bite the hands that feed you Batesy!

Dan Maguire

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I am another fan who does not think the price rise is too drastic. Yes it is a lot but everything goes up every year and we are not yet in a stable financial situation that we can pass that on to the fans. I am on a very low income but choose to spend what I have left over on a season ticket. Whatever the price people would complain. Last year there was no price rise but the club still have the same expenses to pay. Whether you love or hate Ken Bates he has a business to run and perhaps we have a chairman who is not willing to risk the future of the club live Risdale did!! A couple of years ago we did not know if we would have a club to support, now at least we know that things are stable again. Why can't people get over this idea that Ken Bates is personally trying to con them – grow up and pay the price if you want to and if you don't then don't. It's not personal it's a business.

L. James

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Disgusted.

I thought Ken Bates said he was going to look after the "Loyal" supporters who have stuck with the club.

Why are season tickets being raised 10%, which is roughly 4 times more than inflation, when we are already paying over the odds in the 1st place?

Why are people being asked to pay a 20% rise if they cant afford to purchase a season ticket early? with very little warning i may add.

Why are new applications expected to pay £470 for a season ticket in the Kop, no matter what division we are in next year?

Ive been a season ticket holder for 22 years now, and will i be getting a season ticket? yes, and that is what Mr Bates is playing on my "addiction" to Leeds United.

Not everyone is made of money Mr Bates, infact these prices rises are just another kick in the teeth for your average working man i.e. the bloody ones who have stuck by Leeds United through thick and thin.

If this is looking after the "loyal" Leeds fans Mr Bates then thanks for nothing.

Skipton White

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I must be one of the few people who is not too unhappy with the prices then !
Bates has been honest about the whole situation, and admitted that they are
trying to get money in early, to strengthen the team for next season.
Like it or not, the price of EVERYTHING goes up; look at the recent hike in Energy
Prices as an example.
He is offering me and my Father a chance to renew early (we sit in the NE Upper) for
just an extra £10 on top of this seasons price. Irrespective of whether we are still in
League One or not. Personally, I think thats a good deal - if all goes to plan, you could
get a season ticket for the Championship at League One prices.
The only people really being punished are new applicants - Bates has maybe missed
a trick by not having an Early Applicant price, but at the same time
he could be seen to be rewarding the loyalty of existing season ticket holders. And there
is still an interest free installments scheme available........
Renew now, save some money, and help Leeds United get back to where they belong.

Ian182, www.leedsunitedfanclub.com

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KEN bates can keep his season tickets,its ridiculous a price increase when he does not know which division leeds will be in next season.The first season in the championship our seson tickets were more than most clubs in the premier league,and 8.000 fans eventually drifted away.The fans have come back this time but ken bates needs to relise he is already charging top price for division 1 or championship football. some clubs in the premership charge £12.a ticket.
i for one have had enogh.
mark tomlinson.halifax

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What shocking marketing!! What is really crass is the very early renewel dates.



We've heard the term win ugly a lot this season, unfortunately now we are starting to see the lose ugly scenario.
I believe we will still finish in the top six, but will fail to gain promotion, if Doncaster, another team who will be in the play offs can decimate us at home like they did on Saturday then we won't achieve promotion via the playoffs. Matt Heath - a liability, Richardson needs confidence, Hughes in wide roll not on your nelly, no grit in midfield, replace Derry he gave us some bite in the middle, we need somebody in midfield who can control & dictate what happens in midfield, we need a tough resilient ball winner, we need somebody who can terrorise the opposition.

Graham

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Its a dangerous game, Ken is playing... Not the sterile attacking instincts presently abounding on the pitch- but the whopping increase in season ticket prices..
With the debt burden eased and years of troubles seemingly behind us, it would have been a nice gesture to delay the return of the mercenary money grabbing for another season at least and increase prices in line with inflation. This would have been fair and reasonable..
I suppose this particular leopard cant take his eyes off its victim (aka supporters masquerading as a cash cow).

I will be renewing though, because where else am I going to go !!!

Tony Burtonshaw

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I will pay the price because I am a Leeds Supporter and follow the club through thick and thin. It will cost me around £600.00 next season for my son and I, but we will renew both tickets as soon as our forms arrive

The sad part in all of this is that unfortunately, it will be first division football again for us next season as the manager is just not up to the job. I do not blame Uncle Ken for the prices I just blame him for the Manager.

On and on, we are Leeds.

Tony Loyal Supporter.

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As soon as the prices go back up, attendances will fall. Simple as that.

Even if the team gets promoted people are fed up with paying over the odds and not getting value for money.

Taking nothing away from the team this year and what they have done so far, but let's face it, they are not a good side and will be lucky to finish in the play off places and win promotion, without some serious investment in class players. They are now just another League One team, and it was proven on Saturday when Doncaster came to Elland Road and beat them.

All this price rise is, is taking advantage of the great support that people have for Leeds United. At the end of the day it will only damage the team when attendances begin to fall and the negativity comes creeping back in, when supporters feel cheated out of their hard earned cash!

Instead of raising ticket prices, they should think about having a set price for everyone of say £20 a game adults, £10 children, with an accompanying adult, no other concessions or discounts and also open the top tear of the East Stand. This would be a set fee wherever you want to sit in the stadium and would probably generate more of an atmosphere from every stand. A simple solution that would surely get more people to the games and more revenue to the club.

Liam

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We do not know which division we will be in, not ONE club in the country would have the audacity for early renewel with 4 months of the season to go.

Where is the loyalty shown to supporters,or are we simply taken for mugs.Of course loyal supporters including myself , will renew but its the lack of respect shown to its customer base which seems to be a regular feature of the current regime. Yes Leeds fans are grateful for the rescue, yes leeds have done remarkably well this season with -15, but Bates has to get a grip and for once take advice and listen to sensible customer feedback.

Michael Eaton , supporter since 1963.

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