Blues manager Paul Lambert has said he has given owner Marcus Evans his thoughts on next year’s season ticket prices, which are expected to be announced at some point in the next month.

“I’ve spoken not just about that but I’ve spoken about everything, the community, everything because I could see it was dwindling, the whole thing was dwindling,” Lambert said.

“I never felt the connection with the supporters when we first came in and the town being the way it is, everything that was going against it.

“You’ve got to get the fans back to the club. We thought we have to get the supporters back, who have been absolutely brilliant for us, and that’s why I try and get to as many supporters’ function as I can, I try and get there because I need to know what the feeling is and bring them back.

“Get in the schools if we can and get the younger generation back and I think that pays dividends when you see the crowds that are coming, 100 per cent the ticket prices that we spoke about it, but I can’t force that, I can give a recommendation and what I think.

“The more people you get in your stadium, the better for everybody - for the support, for the atmosphere.

“I get so many letters from people coming back to watch the games now. We might not win the games but at least it’s exciting and the atmosphere’s great, and that’s what you want. That’s exactly how you want it.

“Whatever happens on that pitch, if I’ve paid £30 a ticket, I wouldn’t want to come and just be negative to a team and sit there and not enjoy it, I want to go there and have a great time.

“I want to go in the North Stand and jump about like a lunatic and do all those things because I paid the money for it.

“And to get the younger ones in and to get the Blue Action group [playing their part], it was important , it was absolutely vital to do it and the atmosphere since we’ve been here. You’ve seen it before, it’s been absolutely brilliant, I can’t thank them enough for the support they have.

“I’m pretty sure Marcus will do everything he can to help that side of it. I can only recommend my thoughts and my ideas and hopefully I’m pretty sure, everything going alright, that it does change because we need them we need the support.”

Would Lambert be prepared to take what could potentially be a hit on his transfer budget to help increase crowd sizes via cheaper tickets and in turn improve the atmosphere? “I would rather play in a full stadium and go with the young ones here, guys that I know, guys that I know what I’m going to get from them, guys whose mentality I know, guys I know I can trust and their identity with the club and the supporters. That’s important to me, that.

“And get as many people as we can through the gate because I can’t stress it highly enough, the fans are absolutely vital to us and I think they like coming to the game or the stadium. If they didn’t we wouldn’t be getting 23,000 when we’re bottom of the table, you just wouldn’t get it, albeit with the ticket prices were down.

“I think they enjoy the excitement of the games. As I say, we might not win and everybody’s disappointed when we lose, all those things, but they’re coming and if that’s the case and you said to me, ‘Listen, we go with young players to get the identity back to the club’, then it’s not a problem because this club has to get back its identity and it has to get the support back.

“We’ve done everything we can to try and bring them back and you can see the reaction of them just by actually reaching out to them, that’s important for me to understand.”

Photo: TWTD

MattRichards4England added 18:57 - Mar 7 And who says we want you here next season, Paul? You've had half a season and so far the results don't scream progress compared to Mr Hurst's reign? Concentrate on winning the next game, not next season.
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carlisleaway added 19:14 - Mar 7 Look at the bigger picture, get the fans on board and the results will follow next season. I am not bothered about this season as we were down in January. Roll on next season.......
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Mark added 19:33 - Mar 7 Lambert totally gets it, and thank goodness someone finally does. It is NOT just about results, it is about enjoying going to Portman Road and feeling part of something, feeling you have had value for money for your ticket and feeling at one with the club. We need to use our season (hopefully singular) in League One as a springboard to bring supporters back in their droves, as seeing us winning regularly and playing well with young players is what people want to see, then if we get promoted it could be a fantastic journey. Finally League One will be a big hit for Marcus Evans anyway, so let's cut prices then get back to the Championship at the first attempt with a new bigger fan base.

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Mark added 19:34 - Mar 7 Lambert totally gets it, and thank goodness someone finally does. It is NOT just about results, it is about enjoying going to Portman Road and feeling part of something, feeling you have had value for money for your ticket and feeling at one with the club. We need to use our season (hopefully singular) in League One as a springboard to bring supporters back in their droves, as seeing us winning regularly and playing well with young players is what people want to see, then if we get promoted it could be a fantastic journey. Financially League One will be a big hit for Marcus Evans anyway, so let's cut prices then get back to the Championship at the first attempt with a new bigger fan base.

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BluePatriot added 19:40 - Mar 7 Barring a miracle our season is probably already over. Lambert's progress has been hindered by what Hurst did Cleared out our goalscorers and brought in some very very average players With maybe 1 or 2 exceptions. Start planning soon and have as many fans on board Old and new
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MichaelRockyLavelle added 19:46 - Mar 7 Getting fans back is one thing - keeping them is another!! I've got some ideas to improve the god-awful catering situation!!! On Saturday I was fuming - they'd run out of Aspalls & Pies ffs Surely they knew we'd have a bumper-crowd Pre-paid pints (order before the match & then use your season ticket to collect them from a faster queue - or even order for the whole season if you're a creature of habit ) That's just the tip of the iceberg... Some great comments from Lambert though - and this is exactly what he did at Narwich - getting the fans back by reducing ticket prices & bringing in a new generation

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cat added 19:58 - Mar 7 Lamberts got his fingers in all the pies, hopefully the exception being that Portman one! Maybe it might be good, good, good to concentrate on the team and get some frigging results!!
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ITFCsince73 added 19:59 - Mar 7 Do away with the dated old fashioned season ticket. Charge £10 adults. £5 all other. 30,000 guaranteed attendance each game. Just like it used to be. Overhaul of in ground catering. It's a win, win, win, win alround. Happy owner, Happy punters.
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ITFCsince73 added 20:04 - Mar 7 As it stands I want paying to use the catering kiosks. And as it stands I'm wanting paying to go to games. Big things need to change alround. Imo.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 20:31 - Mar 7 I see King of the Numbskulls posted first.
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ITFCsince73 added 20:59 - Mar 7 For what it's worth I do have a very, very slight agreement in the 1st opinion. Lambo was bought in to change results. But hasn't. His January players bought in was to give a wee help, as he put it. And change results. But hasn't. And yes I would like to see some more or just 1 more win this season. But doubt it. But Lambo is most certainly the 1 for the job and I'm hoping and praying he has massive success with us. And for the record the real Numbskulls, are the ones who wanted to carry on with the hell that we had to put up with for so long. Although now when the Mrs calls me at half time and gets no answer. My excuse of being asleep can't be used anymore. Now starting to use the crowds to noisy line. Which works just as well....

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Blue041273 added 21:38 - Mar 7 Sorry folks, if you don't get this you'll never get to be a real fan. The shared joy of celebrating with like minded people is what it's all about. I love a full ground and a good team performance gets a full ground buzzing. Last Saturday was good but we have seen better. My dream is for us to have a full ground every game but that may be a long shot now. But hopefully I will be there next season and celebrating some goals with the fantastic support in the SBR.

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northblue added 21:38 - Mar 7 PL is on the right track. He had to get in any loany he could get and hope for the best. Division 1 next season most of us have acc epted. But I believe he will get us back into the championship.
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Hong_Kong_Bluey added 01:45 - Mar 8 Anybody who believed Matt Richards should have been an England international clearly knows their football. I would heed the words of this oracle over and above a guy who has played more than 500 games of professional football including Champions League, and managed at the highest level for more than 10 years. Obvious really innit............ #MattRichards4England!!!!!

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Northstandveteran added 06:49 - Mar 8 Well mattrichards, I was expecting new manager syndrome when he took over with at least a few early positive results but that hasn't been the case. Only difference I've seen is bigger crowds due to price reductions. There is no denying that his record so far is pretty pants. Still, he talks the talk. Remember on here how Evans went from the devil incarnate to a bloody nice bloke after his carefully pre written interview? You can fool some of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Incidentally, remember when we were 7 points adrift when McCarthy took over? He kept his gob shut, didn't make P.R stunts and concentrated on the team and we finished with over 50 points. Evans and Lambert will be here next year but you have an up vote from me for your 'half a season and no progress' comment.

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BlueArrow added 08:43 - Mar 8 Has anyone told PL how they treated the 60+ year old clientele a couple of seasons ago.!!!!
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Razor added 10:54 - Mar 8 If you look at the crowd and atmosphere last week that is what we want next season. For me I would make all adult season tickets £200----first come first served after existing ticket holders have had a chance to renew, at the same price. 15,000 at this price gets you more revenue than 8,000 at £350 and of course a fuller ground with better atmosphere----simples (sorry Theresa!!)

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essextractorboy93 added 10:54 - Mar 8 Brilliant to see Lambert engaging with fans and connecting with the local community. Will be interesting to see what happens in the summer. Of course we are all gutted about going down but maybe it gives this club a chance to rebuild and reconnect with the town and fans. Lambert clearly identified the fractured relationship between the club and the fans and has started to fix it. Obviously picking up a win or two before the end of the season would help but think as a fanbase we generally understand the enormity of the task he had to deal with when he joined us a few months ago! People who cant see the progress on the pitch are obviously not going to games. The style of play has changed significantly and if we actually had a goalscorer we would have picked up a few more wins.

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SouperJim added 11:23 - Mar 8 Got to love all you back of a fag packet economists, what did Marcus Evans make his millions from doing again?
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ChestnutSe added 13:08 - Mar 8 He didn't make his millions running a b2c business, he's all b2b
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Barty added 16:00 - Mar 8 Well said Razor - I totally agree
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therein61 added 17:01 - Mar 8 Agree with your post northstandveteran but look what happened after he kept his gob shut and thought he was Mr I.T.F.C
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