Walsall announce season ticket compensation following League Two curtailment

The Saddlers 2020/21 campaign was formally ended yesterday, more than three months after Darrell Clarke’s team played their final match. Nine games remained when the season was suspended due to the coronavirus, four of which were at home.

Season ticket holders are now being given the option of claiming a pro-rata refund or taking up the offer of a compensation package.

The latter includes a ticket to a home pre-season fixture, along with a voucher to take a friend free of charge to two home league matches next season. Supporters would also be entitled to 20 per cent off the 2020-21 replica shirt.

With the club’s finances squeezed by football’s shutdown, Saddlers chairman Leigh Pomlett admitted his preference was for fans to choose the compensation package, rather than the refund.

He said: “There will be compensation due to season ticket holders for games that won’t be played and we will give the option to fans to have a refund pro-rata to their season ticket cost.

“We are also putting a package together which will give you as much, in fact more value than a refund would.

"I would prefer supporters to consider taking the package at this time as I don’t want cash coming out of the business.

"But I utterly respect that cash for families is very tight so if you would like a refund, you will get a refund on a pro-rata basis but if you can, please consider taking the package.”

The final table for the 2019/20 season has been decided on a points-per-game basis with the Saddlers finishing 12th in the standings.

It followed a busy day of meetings which began with EFL clubs agreeing to adopt a framework which would then allow the campaign to be ended early.

League Two clubs had already indicated their preference to curtail and overwhelmingly voted in favour of doing so when a formal vote finally took place yesterday afternoon.

The focus now immediately switch to the question of when next season can begin and the Saddlers are among several clubs set to lobby the EFL for an answer over the coming weeks.

A traditional August start already appears unlikely though club officials are optimistic the season could begin in September, in line with when the Premier League and Championship are scheduled to start their next campaigns.