ian1964 10,413 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 SCOTLAND'S top football clubs have been given a massive cash bonus ahead of the new season â?? as fans back calls to boost attendances. Most clubs in the SPL say season ticket sales are up on this time last year â?? despite Rangers dropping out of the top flight. The money generated is seen as vital to clubs who will miss out on cash generated at the gate by the demoted Ibrox clubâ??s huge fanbase. Hibs have outsold last seasonâ??s total of books, with a further last-minute rush expected this week. The Edinburgh sideâ??s total was more than 7100 last night. Aberdeen and Dundee United have installed a season ticket counter so fans can keep track of how many the club have sold. And bosses at Dundee United, whose current total sits at more than 4400, have told supporters that getting the tickets is the best way to ensure the club survives the financial storm. A club spokesman said: â??The response from fans has been very good over the last few weeks. We have surpassed last seasonâ??s total. This will be a difficult season financially and there is no better way for the fans to help the club than buying season tickets.â? Aberdeenâ??s counter is sitting at more than 6304, which officials say is slightly more than last year, with still some time to go before the big kick-off. The club to see the biggest increase are Ross County, who are in the SPL for the first time this season. But while the Staggies wonâ??t provide exact numbers on their season ticket sales, general manager Ranald Gilbert insists the outlook is good. He said: â??We have more than doubled our sales compared to last year. â??Obviously, we are in a slightly different position from other teams because this is the first time in our history that we have been part of the SPL. But it is looking positive and we are very happy.â? Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston said: â??At present sales are around 2500, showing a significant rise over the corresponding period last year. This is hugely encouraging and if we can push that figure up to more than 3800 weâ??ll exceed the highest number of season tickets sold in any of the last five years.â? Stuart Hutton, general manager at St Johnstone, wouldnâ??t reveal exact figures either but said sales were â??ticking away nicely since the Rangers thingâ?. Motherwell spokesman Alan Burrows said: â??The number of season tickets sold changes every day, but we are sitting just shy of 4000. â??Last year our total was 4091 and that included half-season sales as well, so judging by that we are definitely up. Weâ??re targeting 5000.â? Dundeeâ??s ticket office boss Neil Cosgrove added: â??Season ticket sales are very healthy and outstripping last yearâ??s numbers. â??We hope we can sell even more between now and the start of the season.â? Hearts sold 10,000 season tickets last year and their current figure is 8300. Laura Grant, ticket manager at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, admitted the clubâ??s sales were 20 per cent down on last year. She said: â??As the season is getting closer, we have seen a lot more activity and we are hopeful we can make a significant dent in that 20 per cent. Itâ??s definitely picking up.â? St Mirren say they are 60 short of last seasonsâ??s total but expect it to be surpassed in the coming days. Last week, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawell said fans had bought tickets in huge numbers but urged more to invest in a book for the season ahead. The first SPL season without Rangers kicks off next Saturday. Celtic will take on Aberdeen, Hearts face St Johnstone and Kilmarnock play new boys Dundee. Ross County meet Motherwell and St Mirren go up against Inverness. The following day, Dundee United play Hibs. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2012/07/29/spl-clubs-enjoying-season-ticket-boom-following-summer-of-doom-and-gloom-86908-23914298/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 aye we will see the reality soon. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy dewhurst 0 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 good ,fantastic,top of the morning to them all, but i for one just want to see my team playing .well next season will be the reckoning for these vagabonds when the recession bites further . 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigy1881 79 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Maybe my maths is just pish but some of those figures still won't be enough to cover the loss of our away pay days. False article personally. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim1955 12 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Well there's interesting, they are certainly talking the talk, but can they walk the walk? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebear54 0 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Optimistic journalism. Who'd have thought it? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Made up story. Even the Scum are struggling with numbers, not to mention the Sheep giving hundreds of free ST's to children. Also Kilmarnock phoning around friends and family in an act of desperation. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomacgers 0 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Made up story. Even the Scum are struggling with numbers, not to mention the Sheep giving hundreds of free ST's to children. Also Kilmarnock phoning around friends and family in an act of desperation. Yep, we'll see in a few months how booming it really is. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,413 Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 Everything will be ok then, no need for these chairman of the SPL clubs to worry,the SPL will be stronger without Rangers,all the grounds will sell out with all their own fans turning up to see a more exciting / competitive league. All is rosey in the SPL so we will not hear of any clubs toiling,but the opposite they will grow and prosper. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
metlika 0 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 It will last a month at best. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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