Posted Feb 28th 2007, 9:42pm

Everton Join Cut-Price Club

Season ticket prices at Goodison Park for next season have been lowered for a month.

There will be a 10% discount on an annual admission for the 2007/08 campaign, which will be available for season ticket holders, between April 1st and April 28th.

Prices thereafter will be frozen at the same as this season's, which are £574 for the most expensive seats - Park End Stand - and £234 for a child's place in the Family Enclosure, although that will now drop to the equivalent of £10 a match.

Blues Chief Executive Keith Wyness is aware of the recent criticism of ticket prices in the Premiership and the club have reacted by following Bolton Wanderers' and Blackburn Rovers' example by appeasing fans' concerns.

"Last year over 80% of our season ticket holders benefited from a two-week price freeze and this prompted our decision to introduce a four-week window this time around to give our fans more time to take advantage.

"The structure of this year's offer will also mean in many cases supporters buying during the early bird window can actually benefit from a cheaper seat than 12 months ago even if they did the same and purchased early last year."

The difference between Everton and their league rivals is that the Trotters and their Lancashire chums from Ewood Park reduced their prices after falling attendances.

Everton's average gates this season are 36,567, which is 90.5% of their capacity, so it is an admired step.

Blackburn have the lowest percentage with just 68.2% - the lowest in the top division - of their capacity filled this season. Bolton's isn't totally as they would be satisfied with either, with 83.2%.

The next step would obviously be for all of the Premiership teams to follow suit, but there are no fewer than twelve of the twenty sides in the league, filling more than 95% of their ground on average, every game.

So they would have no excuse, to lower their prices as they would see no benefit, to attract the fans. The only real reason would be to placate the possible boycotting of fixtures being quietly organised around the country, albeit by the minority.

That doesn’t seem as far away as you would think. Manchester United fans were furious at being charged £45 to watch their side against Fulham at Craven Cottage, during the weekend as their rivals City pay £25 for the same trip. Strange you may think, and somewhat unfair. But the prices are based on a Category system that Fulham employ. £45 for Category A’s – Arsenal, United, Chelsea and Liverpool fall into that grade.

Very unfortunate, as it seems the price of success!!!