Plenty of Newcastle United fans have responded on Twitter to the words of managing director Lee Charnley about how there is no “agenda” with the new free season ticket offers.
After the club announced that 10,000 free half-season tickets were available to the current season ticket holders as a reward for their loyalty, many fans were miffed that this scheme was just rewarding those who have been staying away.
According to a story from Chronicle Live, thousands of fans have been staying away from St. James’ Park due to outrage over Rafael Benitez’s departure in June.
However, despite claims about the board being disingenuous with their offer, Charnley has strongly disputed them, claiming that it is “simply the club saying thank you”.
He said: “With our crowd at the weekend against Southampton, which was lower than our average this season, the win followed and I had a conversation with Steve (Bruce) and he said ‘is there something we can do?’
“Sometimes these things are about momentum.
“The results we have had over the last week and Steve asked what we could do.
“I felt that the supporters that have been with us and been good to Steve and the team, really supportive, it was like: ‘Why don’t we give them something back?
“That’s what we have done.
“There’s no tricks, agendas, it is simply the club saying thank you to the supporters who have been here and stuck with us, and supported Steve and the team.”
Do you get behind this idea from the club?
Yes
No
Many fans responded with their comments to the quotes, and as you can see, they aren’t particularly happy.
If they want to thank the supporters who have stuck with them then why are they giving out free season tickets to fans who don't go……
— michael (@mickandt) December 10, 2019
It’s a load of tosh and the chronicle should know better…
— Stephen Ward (@StevieWard09) December 10, 2019
maybe need to open his eyes into what turned people away in the first place
— Paul King (@paulkingy87) December 10, 2019
The best thank you to the fans would be for Ashley to sell up and take toad boy with him.
— Roy Brown Jnr. (@RoyBrownJnr1) December 10, 2019
— Liam Moorhouse (@MoorhouseLiam) December 10, 2019
Thank supporters ! Reduce ticket prices ! Simple
— Tony Cornfoot (@Tonyc1234) December 10, 2019
Saying a thank you to the fans who still go would be making there tickets cheaper not giving out free 1s to people that don’t want to go unless it’s free Ashley’s to blame for this, if he just showed abit of ambition We would be a sell out every home game
— andy spratt (@sprattman09) December 10, 2019
With Newcastle boasting the seventh-highest average attendance in the Premier League last season with 51,121, according to worldfootbal.net, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that they are concerned with the recent attendances.
Their win versus Southampton managed to get just 42,303 fans through the door which is obviously notably less than last year’s average.
You can certainly see where many fans are coming from when they feel that this is an attempt to draw back those who abandoned the club this season, however, it is still a pretty progressive move from the Newcastle board to try and get bums on seats.