West Brom fans ‘voted with their feet’
The chairman of Albion’s Supporters’ Club believes fans have “voted with their feet” after it emerged season ticket sales had plummeted to a near 10-year low.
John Homer believes the style of play under former boss Tony Pulis, coupled with the cost of Premier League football, were the chief factors in supporters staying away from The Hawthorns.
New figures in the club’s accounts reveal the club had only 16,750 season ticket holders for the 2016-17 campaign, the first season in their history as the West Midlands’ only top flight representatives.
The number represented a fall of more than 2,5000 on the figure five years previously and meant the Baggies had their fewest season ticket holders since the 2007-08 campaign, when the club were in the Championship.
Albion chief executive Mark Jenkins this week vowed to review ticket prices at The Hawthorns, after admitting the club must start offering fans “value for money”.
That was welcomed by Homer, who believes the perceived negative style of play under Pulis was a big reason in declining attendances.
The Welshman was axed in November after nearly three years at the helm.
Homer said: “Style of play was definitely a factor. I was always a Pulis fan as I had no problem with the pragmatic approach.
“But there were a lot of other fans who did not see it that way. You have to say they have voted with their feet.”
Albion are thought to have reversed the decline, with season ticket sales last summer going past the 17,000-mark following last year’s tenth-placed finish.
Yet that still represents a considerable decrease from the 19,300 sold during the 2012-13 term.
This season’s average attendance is meanwhile on course to be the highest for three years, despite the club’s position at the foot of the Premier League.
