Where have footie fans gone?

Despite all of the West Midlands clubs enjoying success on the field, fed-up supporters are voting with their feet and deserting the terraces of our team's grounds.

Rising ticket prices, unpopular kick-off times and overkill from the summer World Cup are being blamed for the drop - despite teams performing well.

In the Championship, Wolves, Birmingham and Albion all sit in the play-off positions, with Walsall top of League Two and unbeaten at home - but fans fed up with years of underachievement are turning their backs on their clubs.

Average attendances for home games are down at all four sides, and today the Wolves board have warned that if the slump continues it will have serious financial repercussions for Mick McCarthy's transfer budget.

The drop has been partly put down to a combination of financial fatigue after this summer's World Cup and soaring ticket prices.

Wolves average gates are 4,213 down on last season's figure so far this campaign. The two sides relegated from the Premiership last season, Albion and Birmingham, have experienced sharp declines of 5,041 and 6,810 fans respectively.

Top of the league Walsall, who are unbeaten at home and have not conceded a goal at the Bescot, have dropped by 44 so far this season.

Aston Villa, who are riding high in the Premiership, are the only team to have seen a rise in average crowds this season. They have increased their gate by 1,145 in the wake of Martin O'Neill's appointment.

This summer's disappointing World Cup is being put forward as a major factor in the falling crowds. The tournament was a strain on the wallet of fans, with many of them paying to travel all over Germany to watch England's failed efforts.

Rising prices at all of the grounds in the West Midlands have also been blamed. The collapse of the Black Country manufacturing industry is starting to bite for many of the club's traditional fans, who simply cannot afford to go to matches anymore.

The cheapest ticket for both Albion and Wolves is £23 for adults and £11 and £13 for children at the Hawthorns and Molineux respectively.

League Two Saddlers are the cheapest of the region's teams, with the lowest ticket at £14 for adults and £10 for children. Villa offer their cheapest seats at £25, with children and juniors admitted for £5.

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey said: "The people who are attending the matches have been fantastic. We would just like more people to come and experience the new team."

There is some good news for clubs in our region.

The travelling support of all of our clubs has increased this season, which indicates there is still a huge appetite for football among the so-called 'die hard' fans.

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