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Conference will cost fans more

23/ 4/2003

STANLEY have warned fans they will need to dig deep to support their heroes next season.

Conference rules already demand a minimum £9 admission fee to watch games in what many people now perceive to be the Football League's Fourth Division.

That would represent a whopping 50 per cent increase on the bargain £6 cover charge fans paid to see Stanley in their triumphant Unibond League campaign last season.

But Reds' chairman Eric Whalley is contemplating a rounded-up £10 entrance fee as the club aims to cash in on their Conference standing.

Whalley said: "The last thing I want is for fans to claim that we are fleecing them on the back of our success but to a large degree it is out of our hands.

"Obviously there will have to be a price increase because the Conference operates a rule whereby there is a minimum £9 admission charge.

"That will represent a significant rise because people who have watched us this season only paid £6.

"But fans can be assured we will keep increases to a minimum and will be hoping to give them value for money.

"I anticipate we will be looking at a charge of around £10.

"But I don't think that is unreasonable when you consider it costs around double that - and in some cases more - to watch Burnley or Blackburn."