Town’s season ticket sales ahead of the 2016/17 campaign are down almost seven per cent on the same point a year ago. The early bird deadline for purchasing seats at the cheapest prices passed at midday on Monday.

Current sales are similar to those at the same point in the summer of 2014 and represents a drop in revenue of around £200,000.

It had been expected that the Blues would suffer a drop this summer after a less successful season - particularly at home - last year’s play-off finish having boosted sales to just over the 14,000 mark.

The Blues are ultimately likely to see season ticket numbers drop back to somewhere around 13,000 - not as far as some speculation has suggested - leading to an overall reduction of around £400,000 in revenue.

Asked about the anticipated drop in season ticket sales on Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on Radio Suffolk, Blues MD Ian Milne said: “That’s a pity, we’re still up there. I understand what people say about it not being attractive football, but you can play attractive football and be in the relegation zone.

“We’re not in the relegation zone, we’re currently eighth and hopefully we’ll get higher. I don’t think anything’s changed in many ways. Yes, we’d love to be in the top six, but we’re still a great football club with a great following.”

He added that manager Mick McCarthy and owner Marcus Evans will meet in the summer to talk about their plans for the season ahead.

“The budget’s gone up [during 2015/16] and there’s going to be a discussion between Mick and Marcus in the summer about players and we need to wait for that,” the Blues MD continued.

“But I have no reason to think that he’s not going to continue to invest at or above the level he’s investing at the moment. There could be more money available, as there has been this season.”

As is the case every year, season ticket sales are currently suspended until Town’s divisional status for next year has been finally confirmed.

Photo: Action Images

essexboy added 13:09 - Apr 14 Perhaps if Mr.Evans would come forward and explain to the supporters what his plans and intentions are for the coming season 2016/17 it would possibly help in increasing season ticket sales,but while he remains anonymous there will always be an element of doubt.Just a thought.!!
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muccletonjoe added 13:12 - Apr 14 If there is the same sort of investment as last summer there willbe no doubt which league we will be in at the end of next season. - it will be league one.
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peteswindon added 13:13 - Apr 14 MM manages the club ME owns the club. If you don't like it go support someone else, Fed up with all the chocolate teapot supporters. Get behind the club or sod off simple. COYB
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sidtheswan added 13:26 - Apr 14 I'm not surprised really football is in the entertainment business and we are not being entertained for reasons we all have opinions on. I would like to know which planet Ian Milne is on as he does come out with some rubbish. To move forward MM needs money to spend or we need a new manager so at least we can have something to look forward to this summer otherwise we will stagnate.

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Keaneish added 13:28 - Apr 14 I'm amazed there are 13,000 people who want to re-new and pay to watch that. Staggering.
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peewee added 13:29 - Apr 14 ^^what a Muppet what's with the blind faith BS. PEOPLE Evans won't do crap all till we vote with feet and improve the quality of the game. Ipswich town are becoming a joke and it's depressing
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martin587 added 13:31 - Apr 14 Peteswindon,you s@d off mate,everybody is entitled to there opinion.we all love the club but just don't like what we have to watch or the way the club is run.Got It.!.Just don't paper over the cracks.
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Westy added 13:34 - Apr 14 The point is the Club have no ambition or investment and I can't see that changing under the present Regime. The Club absolutely fail to realise that a lot of supporters genuinely can't afford to go, in particular those that travel long distances. As someone who works hard during the week I want to spend time at the weekend in nice surroundings and the stadium is looking very tired in places - not least the leaking gutter by the entrance to the Club Shop that cascades water onto people like Niagra Falls and has done for two years - it has been highlighted to the Club several times who have failed to do anything about it, Bobby Robson's face on the nearby image is increasingly covered in green mould - something a window cleaner could clean for a couple of hundred quid. Where is the pride ? If Season Ticket Sales are down, the Club are to blame. Also, I think a few supporters were expecting the Early Bird deadline to be extended as it has been in the past and genuinely would have renewed had it been.

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BillBlue added 13:38 - Apr 14 Peteswindon - Every single person has their own opinion and are entitled to it and, if they disagree with you, that probably means they are intelligent!
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NSL added 13:39 - Apr 14 In life what people say, particularly on the Internet, and what they actually do are two very different things. . . . The prospect of spending the afternoon with the Mrs shopping must have dawned on most people. That would be far more mundane and expensive than even watching Town!
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BackTheBlues added 13:43 - Apr 14 It's not about being loyal though is it... It's about paying to be entertained at a reasonable value. The price increase does not warrant the decrease in the footballing ability nor finishing position - for prices to go up we needed to have beaten last years position/points/Goal Difference. - of which we are on course for 0. I will always support Ipswich - I will always tell people they are my team - be the first result I look for and be disappointed when we don't win - I will attend as many games as I can... But would I rather spend less money watching the poor level of football we produce in favour of working more - playing football myself instead - or generally doing something more entertaining and value for money... Unfortunately the answer is yes! Petrol, parking,food, drink - plus the cost of the game is not viable currently!

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tractorshark added 13:51 - Apr 14 Dose of Reality to suggest the true supporters are walking away is just barmy. You may have become disillusioned, which is fine, but don't try to justify your decision with a load of nonsense about it being for the best. If people want to renew, it's up to them. If you don't, not a problem. Others have suggested voting with your feet and just don't go. But that's the problem with us football fans. We won't do that. Even the Twenty's Plenty campaign won't get fans to stay away. They may turn up late, they may walk out but they won't not go. Unfortunately the clubs know that. It's why everything from tickets to replica shirts is ludicrously over-priced. Football as an addiction. And for everyone who says I'm not going any more, I guarantee one thing. You'll be back when we're successful again and you'll be paying more than you do now.

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braveblue added 14:02 - Apr 14 Does Milne think we are all stupid? Investment last year. Paper loss of £5m. Transfers in of £375k. Increased wages made up by player releases and maybe £1m. Cash in £8m. That is not investment Milne. Speak like a proper MD. why are the plans not being made now rather than in the summer? Hopeless.
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goat_man added 14:07 - Apr 14 Guys, Evans will back McCarthy next season no doubt about it. Like a whole generation of Ipswich fans all I've known has been the Championship, being a little too young to remember the prem. I really think with the supporter pressure this season, the club will realise that this simply cannot go on and we cant have a fruitless 16th season at this level.
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MattinLondon added 14:14 - Apr 14 A fair few say that if you are a loyal supporter then you will keep going despite the negatives - and there are many. Sorry but that is rubbish. I consider myself a loyal supporter but what with having a very young family as well as not living in the town itself anymore costs are high. A ticket almost £30 train fare almost £40 (can't really pre-book), and food and drink around £30. Granted it's not an absolutely necessary to enjoy the odd pint or four but if you're meeting up with mates and they buy you a pint then you have to do the decent thing and buy a round back. My point being is that football is expensive. I can't go to every home game anymore as I have a very young family and it's not fair on my girlfriend to go all of the time. Against Brentford I could have gone but I just lack the enthusiasm to go. The entertainment is dire. I went all of the time under Keane and Jewell when along with playing awful football we were also losing. Lets face it, if you support Ipswich you do not expect to win all of the time. But after the long last season under Jim, then followed by the two clowns I just have had enough of dull football. Season after season has put its toll on me. I think that the play-offs last season disguised the fact that we are a dull long-ball side. I also used to be of the opinion that having an invisible owner didn't really matter but quite clearly it does. What's the plan etc. There's a disconnect between the club and the management. It's a real shame as I think people want to believe and if there was positivity then we can easily get an extra 10k for each home game but no one (including me) seems to have faith.

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prebbs007 added 15:15 - Apr 14 This doesn't yet include the people who pay by DD who have to tell the club in writing that they are not renewing. The drop will be much larger, and rightly so. Dross players,dross hoofball, no ambition, no entertainment, dinosaur manager, tax dodging owner, price rise, value for money fall !!!! 12k max for next season even tho club will lie and pull the wool over our eyes. Not for me thanks. Love ITFC but hate what they're offering right now.

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bluey123 added 15:17 - Apr 14 McCarthy OUT and watch people buy tickets who in there fight mind pays £500 to watch this rubbish week in week out
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Seasider added 15:24 - Apr 14 Well said Matt.I used to go when I had a young family(a long time ago),as I was going before I met my wife; but I was a selfish bastard,and agree should have put family first. I presume you live in London whereas I only live 30 miles away,and for a time went on supporters coach;but for 3 decades have gone by car,and as it has been generally full the cost was manageable. For over a decade now have been eligible for concession as I am ancient;but unfortunately 2 of us will not be renewing which is a great pity as we have enjoyed great times over many many years. Seeing the numbers in our car halve it is with some surprise that I have learnt of the current figures;but like politicians the numbers at this stage have to be taken with a pinch of salt(not good for you),and the attendances at the start of next season will be the time to assess the true impact that McCarthys boring football and contempt for the fans has had.

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MattinLondon added 15:57 - Apr 14 On a sidenote 'an overall reduction of around £400,000 in revenue' is quite breathtaking and I did feel guilty for contributing to this loss. However when you factor in the wages for Toure, Coke, Tabb, Henshall and Stewart who have played little this season, I bet the club has wasted a lot more then this on their wages.
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Plums added 16:11 - Apr 14 I would hope the conversations about players are happening now. The summer is waaay too late.
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woohoo added 16:47 - Apr 14 I'd expect that, as others have said, affording a season ticket is borderline for some people and if that is the case and they aren't happy with what is being served up at PR just now (who is?), they will not be renewing. That is certainly the case for some that I know. I have renewed - more in hope than expectation for next season.
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Gcon added 16:48 - Apr 14 goat man. I admire your optimism. It's just that there really is no visible supporter pressure on Evans. People always, rather simplistically, point the finger at the manager rather than the owner. Even though a lot of those people are the same people that had not complaints about MM or the style of football this time last year. The difference in reality is that Evans chose not to invest as he hoped he might get promotion on the cheap. Its not going to work like that and supporters need to apply pressure towards the owner over the coming weeks in order for the situation to change.

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Elto added 16:57 - Apr 14 jas0999 I agree re. accusations of not being a true fan. Thoughtless comments.
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superblue70 added 17:11 - Apr 14 Peteswindon if your car never started in the morning you would mend it not just carry on smiling and saying I love it the way it is, broken, your comments are foolish, change is needed most realise this, blind faith will get us nowhere
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blueboy1981 added 17:18 - Apr 14 ......... this is laughable really - some saying "I will still be there whatever League we are in'. Just proves the point that this Club doesn't need to have any ambition, be successful, or any intention of improving the entertainment side. Championship - here we stay at best. This sums up IPSWICH TOWN of today - memories of much better days will linger on, and always be sweet. R.I.P - the Ipswich Town of old.

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