Manchester United, already courting unpopularity among their fans with the proposed takeover of the club by BSkyB, risked angering some more yesterday with the announcement that, from the beginning of next season, seat prices at Old Trafford will rise by as much as 14 per cent.
The chairman, Martin Edwards, announced the price increases after unveiling a fall in United pre-tax profits for the six months leading to January 31st. The profit of Stg£11.1 million was down from £15.4 million the previous cycle, and Edwards said that the need to recover the escalating salaries being paid to players was the main reason behind the ticket price hike.
Recruitment of players such as Dwight Yorke, Jaap Stam and Jesper Blomqvist had contributed to United's wage bill jumping by £3 million, and there had also been a 20 per cent fall in merchandising sales for the same period. Finally, £1.7 million was spent on consultants advising on the proposed takeover.
Edwards sought to justify the increase by comparing United ticket prices with those of other Premiership clubs, and it is true that only Everton charge less than United for their cheapest seats.
"Next season," said Edwards, "if you take a top-price season ticket it will be just over £400. Some of the clubs in London charge something towards £1,000 per season ticket."
The £2 across-the-board increase will see the lowest-priced Old Trafford seat rise from £14 to £16, still £6 shy of the charge at Chelsea and West Ham.
Nevertheless, neither those figures nor Edwards' justification convinced Lee Hodgkiss, of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, who said: "It's a disgrace. We will be getting in touch with the club, as we do every single year to discuss ticketing issues. We would like them to look at reinvesting some of the profits in the business and not just ask the fans to fund everything through higher ticket prices."
Meanwhile, United have confirmed Peter Schmeichel will leave the club in May. Schmeichel announced his decision to quit English soccer last November, but a recent run of good form had prompted speculation that United might try to persuade the Dane to change his mind.
"Peter Schmeichel is leaving at the end of the season. He has announced his retirement from football in England and is going to play abroad. That hasn't changed," said Edwards.
Edwards said most of the United squad were on long-term contracts, the exception being the captain Roy Keane, who has another year to go after the current season.
"The negotiations with him, contrary to what you may have read in the papers, haven't even started yet," Edwards added.
Arsenal captain Tony Adams faces a fitness test today to determine the extent of his participation in the eight-day programme which could decide the destiny of the Premiership champions' bid to repeat their League and FA Cup Double.
Adams was back in light training yesterday after withdrawing from England's game against Poland last week with a recurrence of back and ankle problems, which have been a blight on his career over the last two seasons.
Today Arsene Wenger will weigh up the chances of Adams facing Southampton on Saturday.
