Regardless of the numbers, i sincerely hope he was dragged through the rinser. Anything less than more sales than last season is not good enough. I maintain they got the whole thing wrong again, Be very interesting how many supporters attend now than attended pre-venkys, and how many are replacements for those who have walked away

You sent to right one, id re-send questioning why no response

Not as of yet

Didn't see this, pretty much said the same thing

We are assuming Feyenoord who are dutch champions and head into the champions league would want JDT. Given their season, im sure there be quite a few fancy that job, given they totally outclassed both PSV and Ajax this season. I'm not sure JDT would be their first choice when they are sat on top of the pile

Was 100% going to be a price hike at end of month, so hopefully they have listened.

Stats dont lie, just 6 points from losing position over 46 games

Have not enjoyed the football at all this season, all too predicatable and bland, whilst his ability to change games for a positive outcome 95% of the time has been found wanting.

Cant say id be too bothered if he goes tbh, not taken to him at all. Only downside would be the usual "give them 3 or 4 windows tripe" we hear every time we change manager, dof etc

Most disappointing he has not responded given their customer charter.

End of month be biggest uptake i suspect if there is a spike

Only minor update, I have sent my emails and responses to the owners, who have acknowledged reciept, Be interesting what their take is, but i suspect they will ask the questions which is the norm when reached out to

Price

Be interesting on brfcs alone, what would be the trigger to those who aint got a season ticket yet, what the trigger would be to buy one. Id also be interested how crowd data from last season can be deemee reliable given we spent most of the season having our games selected for tv or being moved from 3pm saturday kick offs. The revenue generated from that be an interesting number too

Its just laziness. They dont get from behind their desk and see no further than the end of their noses. They are reliant on the good faith of the remaining season ticket holders to renew regardless, and those they lose that others replace them. The strategy if they want to call it that, is purely putting a price to it, stick it on website, email and tweet out. How many recieved a renewal pack? Do we even send these? How many marketing research letters have we recieved or canvassing? Bar through an email, I dont recall any. Certain supporters still dont do online/emails etc. They've handicapped one demographic right there by not considering this fact. I couldn't imagine my mum or dad even knowing how to send an email let alone login to a portal.

Morning Glen Many thanks for your email. As previously discussed at one of our previous meetings when setting ticket prices we balance the needs of all club stakeholders to ensure reasonable prices are offered, with multiple payment options to spread the cost and ease cash flow for individuals. After consultation with representatives of the Supporters Trust and the Fans Forum it was agreed that we would get the 23/24 season tickets on sale as soon as possible. Following discussions with the Owners the super-saver period was announced on the afternoon of Friday 24th March 2023 the earliest we have gone out on sale for many years. This first phase included a reduction of £50 from the adult standard price in 22/23 and a £20 saving for those who purchased in the early-bird period of that season. Most clubs across the EFL have chosen to freeze or increase prices from the outset to manage the rising operational costs that they are incurring, thanks to our Owners we were able to resist this approach and did not. Whilst the club fully appreciates the cost of living increase felt by most across the UK, a reduction by any more would fail to cover rising operational costs and see us suffer a Year On Year reduction in revenue. We have worked behind the scenes with the Owners to get them to approve a £50 discounted price on the adult standard price £429 of last 22/23 season especially working within the backdrop of rapidly rising costs across all aspects of the Club and the three main sites. We have seen that the suggestion of reducing costs by half would see the volume of tickets sold double does not correlate; this has been tested throughout the season to allow us to base our decision on data. The rate of purchase is above that of the previous 5 years, showing a positive response to the super-saver period. This period was designed to span two pay-days (March and April) allowing for supporters to save in two instalments. There is also the V12 finance option for those who are eligible. Whilst some have raised the issue of not being eligible, it would not be ethical of us to argue their eligibility and plunge supporters who cannot afford credit, into debt. The rationale for the phased approach allows the Club to meet its financial targets whilst giving supporters the opportunity to make an initial saving followed by a price freeze versus 22/23 prices which, we believe, is another magnanimous gesture from our Owners who have taking on board the financial pressure placed on some of our supporter base. Obviously, those who need longer to save will unfortunately pay a slightly higher price but reversing the order would make no sense to anyone and we were also looking to reward early purchases ahead of the deciding match in the 46-game Championship season. Supporters could have therefore locked in a price of £379 (adults) for a potential Premier League season, which would be one of, if not the cheapest Premier League season ticket. £379 also makes us very competitive amongst our peers who are in and around the top 8 of the Championship. We have seen an increase in attendances, season ticket purchases and engagement in the past season. This is some of the best growth that the club has seen in recent years. We’re on course to attract more season ticket holders than we have in the past 5 seasons and have a growing database to market to for individual match tickets. We anticipate a 90% renewal rate and a 10% churn followed by an uplift of around 1500-2000 supporters. Other Clubs may have lower prices or longer periods, but they also won’t generate the same revenue we do therefore limiting their ability to invest in other areas of the Club like we do. We have currently exceeded 7000 sales with a cohort of circa 300 not being able to take advantage of the Super Saver and who have paid the £429 with further sales still steadily coming in. Ultimately the club’s commercial goal is to generate funds that allows us to put a competitive senior team on the pitch along with operating a successful Category One Academy and a support structure to meet the many operational demands across the Club. Naturally we welcome as many fans as possible at all matches as can be seen by ongoing investment in to our outstanding community integration work and match day standards gaining a Gold Standard in family excellence awards. Can I conclude by thanking you for your valued support and happy to meet up over the summer should you wish to do so. Kind Regards Steve My response. Thank you Steve, I fully appreciate your detailed response at the weekend in your free time. A couple of points to raise. 1. Early bird - Does indeed cover two pay days, but given the timing, the first pay day in many instances is a wash out. Many people budget at the beginning of a month and not in the final week leading up to pay day. This creates an impulsive purchase rather than a measured one. I strongly believe the end of May given the season starts on the 5th August is more representative and realistic when considering the demographic/target audience. 2. The V12 has never been a good arrangement for a number of fans, i fully understand why rovers use them due to the working capital being released earlier than other providers like premium credit, but do not agree that this is a mechanism to prevent people dropping further in debt. Its no different than buying up front and potentially jeopardising other commitments that supporters may have. Is there not a potential arrangement of using both providers? 3. Our owners investment each season is very much appreciated, we are very reliant on them given our revenues do not balance the books. I also appreciate club employees are also feeling the pinch and no doubt the club has given rises to these too, as any other employers have too. Interest rates rised to 4.5%this week, causing further pain to many whose mortgages are rising by the hundreds. 4. Premier League, Championship, Division 1 etc its fair to say has very little baring on the majority of loyal season ticket holders. We are in this together and our support is unconditional. We were born into the Rovers family and although success is what everyone seeks, we dont wander away when he dont get it. There is certainly no sense of entitlement for the majority of supporters in terms of where we should or should not be in terms of league position. 5. I dont think I've asked for season tickets to be reduced by half, this is not realistic. However what I am asking for is realism. The 9th May however served up was an unrealistic expectation. I will check with the Trust and Fans Forum, as i cannot believe either entity would of subscribed to an increase as soon as the last ball is kicked. 6. You dont answer the question regarding a further increase, can you please advise if there will be one?. It's nice to know we have sold nearly 7000, although hitting last seasons sales is still some way off. I will be interested to know how many new season ticket holders we attract, but also how many we lose. If we gain 1500 new ones, but lose 1500 old ones this cannot be deemed a success. I would go as far as stating it be a disaster as the baton is passed from one generation to another within families. Losing that succession is something a family club should be avoiding at all costs. I will be happy to meet up at your convenience to discuss this, but also how we avoid this in the future. There are longer term options which I feel the club could adopt which would bring about a more positive conclusion in future ticketing strategies. As we discussed last time we met, increasing our support should be paramount, our club needs its supporter base and we cannot continue to lose supporters season upon season as they are the very fabric to the long term success of our club, or indeed any club who values their importance. Best wishes Glen

I have sent a response, off out now (wedding anniversary tomorrow).

Morning all, I've recieved quite a long detailed response from Steve this morning. I will digest it further and put the response on here later. Main points. 1. He consulted with the Rovers Trust and Fans Forum over the strategy. 2. The early bird gave 2 pay days which was generous. 3. Owners have been generous allowing the early bird discount given rising operational cost. 4. Best sales in 5 years. 5. Pricing was based on data, i.e reducing them there was nothing to suggest that it would increase sales. 6. Would of been one of cheapest premier league tickets had we been promoted. 7. Club expecting 90% renewal rate and 1500 to 2000 new season ticket holders. 8. Club gained Gold award for engagement and family excellence I will post full response tomorrow .

Steve Waggott has acknowledged the email. He says he wants to digest and then give consideration to the points I raised, Least he has read it and responded in person

Usually replies, but if he does not then at least i will know he read it. Not sure what he could respond tbh, they have got this wrong imo

Not yet

Some of the sponsors are subsidising tickets too for example if you work at Totally wicked; you get £100 towards your season ticket

Id be astonished if we have 1600 new season ticket holders, there is nothing in this seasons gates in general to suggest so many new ticket holders

If the club are saying we've sold around 7000, how do we get to the 8600 number? We cant possibly of sold 1600 tonight. Also worth noting we give a number of season tickets away

Steve, Trust you are well? I'm writing regarding season tickets, The season ticket prices coming out earlier than in previous seasons was appreciated, as this allows people to budget. However the ability to budget has been taken away from the most of the population of Blackburn with todays news that season tickets will increase by £50 From those of the early bird price. Blackburn as a town has statistically one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country, whilst its widely regarded as one of the poorest communities in the country. You market our club as a community club, a club which is inclusive to all and a club where fans matter. As part of this charter, do you consider the affordability and the very demographic in which the club claims that matters? I'm sorry but for more times than I care to count the club has once again showed that getting supporters through the turnstiles is low on the agenda. The last ball was only kicked yesterday, the new season is over three months away, yet the club expects supporters to pluck money out of thin air. I appreciate that less than 7000 have renewed under the early bird price (We do have a 32000 stadium you know), this will be a demographic of those who can afford, or those who can get credit to pay via direct debit. Of the ones who have yet to renew in many cases its not a choice. 1. People need to save, we are in a cost of living crisis where Mortgages, rents, council tax, Energy bills are off the scale. 2. People have families, buying one ticket is expensive, try buying 5!!! 3. Some people just cannot get credit with V12, Which takes away their ability to pay in instalments. When people cannot get credit, in most cases they need to save harder than most, as disposable income is likely to be less, hence why they cannot get credit. Where is the logic in increasing the ticket prices now, so in affect penalising those less fortunate than those who could get credit or had disposable income to buy a ticket? I myself was saving for my season ticket as I pay for mine cash every season. Next season it was my intention for my wife to renew for the first time in 5 years, and my kids to come with us. (Having kids makes going football very expensive). For over 40 years I've watched my team from one coast to the other, renewed each season despite some of the darkest times in our clubs history. Have put hours upon hours into my club, supporter base, community in trying to rebuild those bridges which have not only fallen down, but have been cruise missiled through gross mis-management of the club our community once knew. We are told on the website this is now phase 2, which suggest perhaps another increase in phase 3? I fail to understand how the club cannot see, that those who renew later is due to funds and affordability. How does the club manage this? Yes that's right lets increase the 2nd week of May and make it even more unaffordable and drive away more supporters from the club, but this time through affordability. Getting supporters is one of the hardest things to do, losing them is one of the easiest when the club is out of touch. The marketing and pricing has been a shambles again. Not only are we the most expensive of the local clubs, but we have the early bird that expires at least one month before others and in some cases 8 weeks. When we met last year, you suggested that you need to hit a certain revenue on season tickets. If you got the same revenue for 20,000 tickets than you got for 8,000 tickets you was happy with that. What I see here is lazy pricing and the marketing/commercial team should be ashamed. Rather than attract supporters, which quite frankly I could of done their job for free and sold more tickets and increased revenue, they've opted to go down the safe route that 95% will renew maybe 5% new supporters, and with that generate the required revenue which has been forecasted. It lacks imagination and begs the question why have we not changed the personnel and strategy? Its the 9th May 2023, I never in a million years thought I'd be one of those supporters who does not renew. However £1200 for 5 Season tickets is a lot of money to save. I don't do credit cards, or credit, we was brought up to save and had every intention of renewing at the end of May 2023. The club has made this impossible, by penalising me further and increasing this to an unaffordable amount. Each match day I pay £10 to park my car at Ewood (£230 a season). I spend around £35 per match day in the blues bar. I buy 10 replica kits, home and away (for my family and I). I buy various things from the club shop, and also become an 1875 member, I travel to away game at great expense also. I have a shrine of memorabilia which would be fitting in any museum. I'm now 45 and my time and money has always been invested in my football club. Is this really the type of supporters the club wishes to drive away from the club. I will not be renewing next season, unless a complete rethink is made on this early bird. This should of been until the end of June, not the start of May. Where is the statistical data that those who cannot afford at the start of May, can now afford to pay more just a few weeks later? I'm truly ashamed I'm having to write to my club over the affordability of a ticket for a season three months away, I sincerely hope you can look at this, and not use the word "sympathise" in your response. The players and high ranking staff will be celebrating their summer break on a beach in exotic places, putting their pictures on instagram/twitter. Whilst some of the town's population will worry about how they feed their families, how they put school uniforms on their backs, how they buy them clothes, You know, the things which hold a far greater priority than trying to live beyond their means by trying to grab together season ticket money. When you return home, please look at your surroundings (You have worked hard for) , then spare a thought for the supporters of the club in which helps you maintain that standard of living. Think of those less fortunate, then please ask yourself, have we done the right by the fans here? Are we setting out to fill Ewood or setting out to empty it further than we have before? I look forwards to your action and response , Regards Glen Mullan