Season Tickets 2009-10

[Dirk Gently]

Never forget that the one year of running the playing side on a PL budget has come to an end now, so there'll have to be economies across the football club.

are you telling us that the club was running on the same costs as in the prem this last season, if so what happened to cutting the cloth, as Mr M said after relegation, and the fall in wages suggested at the time??

Not so much wages, no - but all the other things that make up a PL-style club - number of assistant coaches and the facilities at Hogwood, for instance, and also travel to matches (including number of overnight stays). I think the only thing reduced from the PL was the actual quality of the hotels used, but the way the whole playing side was arranged was as if the club was a PL club - no more!

Another example is that ProZone was kept on - that is damn expensive to use, so it remains to be seen if they'll have it again this year.

[SHORT AND CURLY]

With a number of clubs reducing ST prices and most keeping them the same I would be very suprised if the club increased the cost.
The turn out for the Burnley game has shown that punters will not pay to watch a faltering team.
As a result I suspect that the club will keep prices the same as they will not want to lose any more of its fanbase. I personally will renew in the next few weeks or so.

[Rex]

That's pretty much the nub of it. Some of the support base were clearly geared up to the prem. This failed and in order to retain this base it's best for the club not to give the support more encouragement to stay away. I still expect a dip and dependant on where we are at christmas there will either be a clammer for half ST tickets or not.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Never forget that the one year of running the playing side on a PL budget has come to an end now, so there'll have to be economies across the football club.

are you telling us that the club was running on the same costs as in the prem this last season, if so what happened to cutting the cloth, as Mr M said after relegation, and the fall in wages suggested at the time??

Not so much wages, no - but all the other things that make up a PL-style club - number of assistant coaches and the facilities at Hogwood, for instance, and also travel to matches (including number of overnight stays). I think the only thing reduced from the PL was the actual quality of the hotels used, but the way the whole playing side was arranged was as if the club was a PL club - no more!

Another example is that ProZone was kept on - that is damn expensive to use, so it remains to be seen if they'll have it again this year.

But by far the biggest outgoing is the wages and there was the apparent 40% reduction that was pretty much across the board

[Sarah Star]

Do we get less money than last year?

That's all I want to know.

[Dirk Gently]

Do we get less money than last year?

That's all I want to know.

No - we have the same parachute payment as last year. But we're one year closer to needing to potentially survive on only 20% of what we get this season - so if we enter into long-term contracts with players that stretch for more than one year (as the players will insist on!) and those contracts are based on this season's income levels and don't go up then we're seriously Southamptoned.

[Sarah Star]

Do we get less money than last year?

That's all I want to know.

No - we have the same parachute payment as last year. But we're one year closer to needing to potentially survive on only 20% of what we get this season - so if we enter into long-term contracts with players that stretch for more than one year (as the players will insist on!) and those contracts are based on this season's income levels and don't go up then we're seriously Southamptoned.

That explains everything.

Thanks, Dirk.

[The Cube]

Do we get less money than last year?

That's all I want to know.

No - we have the same parachute payment as last year. But we're one year closer to needing to potentially survive on only 20% of what we get this season - so if we enter into long-term contracts with players that stretch for more than one year (as the players will insist on!) and those contracts are based on this season's income levels and don't go up then we're seriously Southamptoned.

A new verb. Excellent.

To Southampton -
1. To screw up totally.
2. To believe incorrectly that you are better than anyone else.
3. To spend more than you earn.
4. To set up a holding company to get round the rules, but to be caught out and punished anyway.

[Rawlie19]

That's good idea that has been suggested, except that cup ties cost the club money.

Because cup-tie revenue is shared with the way club and the FL (for the League Cup) they'd actually have to hand over money to those equivalent to a share of the ticket prices for the 9,000 early-renewers, even if they didn't actually turn up at the match.

So a good idea, but an expensive one for the club that I can't see taking off.

Never forget that the one year of running the playing side on a PL budget has come to an end now, so there'll have to be economies across the football club.

Sadly, I can see enforced departures of people across the club, and a general "slimming down" - which is sad for those employees who've done their job perfectly well over the past year and have had no influence on how well or badly the players have done - they're the ones for whom this year's failure really hits home.

So free tickets to the early bird s/t holders, and the rest of the tickets go on sale at £2 adult, £1 child. A lot less that the club have to pay out. And the club SHOULD do something to make it worthwhile renewing, even if it's a free scarf or something.

What's happened to the "10 of the best" DVD that was supposed to be coming out? It wasn't converted into a shit book was it?

[Hoop Blah]

You already get a ticket for every home league game, and at a cheaper rate, and you're helping your club finance transfers etc etc....there's your reasons for renewing!

[Dirk Gently]

That's good idea that has been suggested, except that cup ties cost the club money.

Because cup-tie revenue is shared with the way club and the FL (for the League Cup) they'd actually have to hand over money to those equivalent to a share of the ticket prices for the 9,000 early-renewers, even if they didn't actually turn up at the match.

So a good idea, but an expensive one for the club that I can't see taking off.

Never forget that the one year of running the playing side on a PL budget has come to an end now, so there'll have to be economies across the football club.

Sadly, I can see enforced departures of people across the club, and a general "slimming down" - which is sad for those employees who've done their job perfectly well over the past year and have had no influence on how well or badly the players have done - they're the ones for whom this year's failure really hits home.

So free tickets to the early bird s/t holders, and the rest of the tickets go on sale at £2 adult, £1 child. A lot less that the club have to pay out. And the club SHOULD do something to make it worthwhile renewing, even if it's a free scarf or something.

Fine, except that the away team in a cup tie gets an important say in how much the ticket prices are - so if you can find an away club who'd be happy to come here and virtually give the tickets away good luck to you!

What's happened to the "10 of the best" DVD that was supposed to be coming out? It wasn't converted into a shit book was it?

Not considered economically worthwhile - demand (based on sales of previous DVDs) not enough to make it worth the cost of producing.

[Sun Tzu]

Isn't there also a VAT problem with free / cheap tickets that the club are still liable for VAT at the normal ticket price ?

I could be wrong but recall this being mentioned somewhere.

Not sure how 'sale' prices in shops would work - pretty much the same thing I'd have thought !!

[West Stand Man]

Isn't there also a VAT problem with free / cheap tickets that the club are still liable for VAT at the normal ticket price ?

I could be wrong but recall this being mentioned somewhere.

Not sure how 'sale' prices in shops would work - pretty much the same thing I'd have thought !!

I think that you are right in the case where they give away tickets. If, however, the cost of cup matches is inclusive in the purchase of a ST then the VAT has already been paid - or so I would guess!

[Dirk Gently]

Isn't there also a VAT problem with free / cheap tickets that the club are still liable for VAT at the normal ticket price ?

I could be wrong but recall this being mentioned somewhere.

Not sure how 'sale' prices in shops would work - pretty much the same thing I'd have thought !!

I think that you are right in the case where they give away tickets. If, however, the cost of cup matches is inclusive in the purchase of a ST then the VAT has already been paid - or so I would guess!

Yep, but otherwise HMRC would certainly ask questions about why the ticket price was so low, and if they felt so inclined they could demand VAT on the "normal" price of the product being offered.

[RoyalBlue]

Isn't there also a VAT problem with free / cheap tickets that the club are still liable for VAT at the normal ticket price ?

I could be wrong but recall this being mentioned somewhere.

Not sure how 'sale' prices in shops would work - pretty much the same thing I'd have thought !!

If they were giving away tickets that they were selling to other people at say £20, then I guess there might be an issue with VAT. However, I suspect there may well be a way around that, as I am pretty sure retail chains offering freebies would have done everything possible to avoid a VAT liability on such promotions.

As for reducing the price of tickets for everyone, I am sure that VAT would only be chargeable on that reduced retail price.

Surely we must have at least one tax adviser/tax accountant on these forums? Our club is based in the highly professional Thames Valley after all!!

BTW I would be surprised if the club were paying the full amount of VAT (i.e. based on the pre-offer price) on the special offers that they currently run.

[Compo's Hat]

So when are they going to announce the details for them? Those ticket office staff must be rushed off their feet at the moment!

[Dirk Gently]

So when are they going to announce the details for them? Those ticket office staff must be rushed off their feet at the moment!

Today : http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1670173,00.html

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Bring a friend free nice gesture RFC.. Well done!!

[Huntley & Palmer]

Nice touch. Will use that no doubt, would have preferred a cash discount on my ST mind

[Rawlie19]

Fcuking great. I pay a lump sum early, and my leaching mate gets a free fecking ticket! Fcuk it, I'm going to apply for a free ticket and slouch across both seats myself