Town MD Ian Milne says the club are carrying out a review of ticketing with season ticket numbers and overall attendances having fallen this season.

The Blues lost around 1,000 season ticket holders in the summer, while Saturday’s crowd of 15,042 was the lowest for a league game since the 14,953 recorded at the Blackburn match in December 2013.

Both games will have actually been watched by fewer fans with season ticket holders counted in the attendance figure regardless of whether they are at a match.

“At the moment we’re looking at the whole ticketing fabric as a separate project,” Milne told Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk.

While he accepts Town’s performances have certainly had an impact, he says other factors have also played their part, including pricing with tickets at Portman Road among the division’s most expensive.

“There are other forces that we’ve discussed where people are distracted with other types of sport, where they can see our game about half an hour afterwards and get a replay of the highlights,” Milne added.

“There are various things where we compete with. There are issues on pricing we need to look at and we’re having a thorough review on that.

“That’s where my side of the field can improve things. But I fully appreciate it’s what happens on the pitch that’s the important thing.”

He added: “There are things we can improve on, not just to do with the attractive football or lack of attractive football, and that’s what we’re looking at. And certainly those under 20 or 23 we’re looking at to see how we can improve things for them.”

He says the issue of ticketing will come up in his monthly review with owner Marcus Evans.

“We have a review with him every month where we got through the facts and figures, the attendances, ticketing,” the MD continued.

“And [part of] that conversation will be that attendances will fall off if the football is not attractive, so this is a good time before the transfer window for me and Mark Andrews, the [financial director] here, to talk to Marcus to say, ‘This is where we are, this is where we’re going’.”

He added: “Certainly Marcus is not stupid, he knows what’s going on and we reinforce the message.”

Milne says Town’s up and down season has been frustrating for everyone at Portman Road: “Mick and Marcus are frustrated with the consistency, as Mick has said.

“The players want to improve, we know they give 100 per cent on the field and we’re going into a very busy period of the season, so the pressure is on them and on us to improve and I hope fans will bear with us while we go through these difficult times.”

Regarding January business with a striker to replace Daryl Murphy top of the wish-list, Milne added: “Marcus and Mick have said they’re going to look again when the transfer window opens in January, and that’s what they’ll do.”

Photo: Action Images

TR11BLU added 15:12 - Dec 13 “Certainly Marcus is not stupid, he knows what's going on and we reinforce the message.” well why hasnt he sacked the dinosaur then? DON
21

rozeeboy added 15:13 - Dec 13 Finally the penny (or 3500 pennies a week) drops. 6 figure income being earned there.
4

uppersirbob added 15:14 - Dec 13 It doesn't matter how cheap the tickets are if the product is poor no one will buy it ! Proves that's with the £10 season ticket holder deal Also only have to come on here and see the number of people who can't give there tickets away when they can't go !
29

baldman added 15:18 - Dec 13 Marcus and mick are gonna look again in January how about looking now so you can bib as soon as it opens not leave it till the 30th and then get the left overs
9

wkj added 15:24 - Dec 13 We should also invest in a DVD player for MM, you know, PJ used to like doing that. In all seriousness however, at least Milne is looking at the more important issues rather than the turn styles needing a freshen up
1

ITFCFan365 added 15:27 - Dec 13 Perhaps Ian Milne your next review with Marcus Evans needs to consist of listening to fans feedback. We are the ones struggling here, yet we seem to be ignored at every opportunity!
11

trncbluearmy added 15:31 - Dec 13 Jesus H Christ Bolted Horse ITFC is run by idiots
22

bluehook added 15:33 - Dec 13 We were told that when McGoldrick had regained his fitness, he and Best were going to be the golden dream pairing. Where is Best? He's being paid for doing nothing, along with the under-used Williams. If Williams plays in McGoldrick's position, then why is he at the club?
16

midastouch added 15:35 - Dec 13 The most simple, swift and effective way to make attendances increase significantly involves a certain Metal Mickey being shown the exit door. The brand of football needs a major overhaul. If you want to bring the crowds back with Mick continuing to name uninspired teams packed with the likes of Douglas and Skuse, you're going to have to reduce the ticket prices by around 50% and even that will still not be enough for the most disgruntled of us!

16

flyingdutchman added 15:38 - Dec 13 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahaha
2

Benters added 15:38 - Dec 13 G & T Ian Milne and a pic on the train lovely !
0

TLA added 15:39 - Dec 13 Would people rather he said 'we're happy with pricing and we're going to do nothing'? Seriously, people man about stuff and then have another dig when the club say they're going to look into the things we've been moaning about!
-2

WadeyBlue added 15:44 - Dec 13 I'll be interested to see how they are going to make it more attractive for the under 20's, as at the moment I have to start bribing my 11 & 14 yr old about 3 days before a match to go. I'm running out of options. How about a skate park on the practice pitch ? or maybe Xbox's built into the seats??
5

mickeyjb added 15:45 - Dec 13 They are going to look at it and do what exactly? Nothing as if you bring the prices down you will p1ss off those season ticket holders who actually chose to renew! This club is a total and utter mess from top to bottom. One quick way of getting fans back. Get shot of MM and TC, let a new young manager come in and allow them to get a couple of players in that might just spark some interest amongst the fans. someone who shows we actually mean business. At the moment what is the point in going?

17

mickeyjb added 15:47 - Dec 13 Sorry fan365 meant to upvote not downvote
1

vanmunt added 15:59 - Dec 13 I am not going back to PR until he is gone, no bluff.. didn't even attend the game in Bristol. When asked why I was not going to Ashton Gate I said after 30+ years of supporting Ipswich Town I no longer support them under Mr Magoo's reign. Seriously sad times and I feel like a part of me has died, dramatic I know but it really does hurt.
13

Edmundo added 16:00 - Dec 13 Rearrange to make a common phrase or saying: Horse door the bolted stable after
1

OldClactonBlue added 16:00 - Dec 13 TLA Why don't they just do it and then announce the changes they are going to make then? Only words!
4

Keaneish added 16:03 - Dec 13 "Both games will have actually been watched by fewer fans with season ticket holders counted in the attendance figure regardless of whether they are at a match." What? So the attendance figure recorded at the end of each game is completely fictitious!? Why both posting it each week if its wrong? Weird.
3

Benters added 16:04 - Dec 13 i cant handle much more of this sh1t
8

MattinLondon added 16:11 - Dec 13 Reviews often mean pointless powerchart presentations as well as spreadsheets and double-sided reports in a nice plastic folder. I can save the board from having to seat through and flick their way through that. 1. Too expensive 2. Boring football Sometimes the simplest answers are the correct ones. You can't really reduce prices as they wouldn't be fair to season ticket holders and will MM like to be told that his football is the reason why people are staying away? Very much like West Ham under Big Sam - but I doubt if ME will sack MM. Maybe MM will be encouraged financially to walk away at the end of the season.

7

GeoffSentence added 16:24 - Dec 13 Credit to the club here, they have seen what is going on, have listened to the fans and are taking some action. Now what they need to do is undertake a footballing review.
1

Lightningboy added 16:27 - Dec 13 Christ, we all thought Simon Clegg was inept at his job but this Milne guy is catching him up fast. Larger Xmas attendances will only further paper over the cracks.
7

Balders added 16:30 - Dec 13 15,000 tickets @ an average of £25 = £375,000 25,000 tickets @ an average of £15 = £375,000 Bums on seats.... No Brainer! Oh and MM out!
11

battyblue added 16:30 - Dec 13 Boring crap football supplied by a out of touch manager and his silent puppet TC i would not go if the ticket price was a fiver until they are gone things won't change..........McCarthy out and his silent puppet now.
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