City owners cut ticket prices

Manchester City have cut season ticket prices for the 2009-10 campaign — and given their long-suffering fans more time to pay. The club's owners are anxious to carry City fans with them as they look to turn the Eastlands outfit into one of Europe's elite and feel it is necessary to offer some help in a time of general economic gloom. So adult season ticket holders will benefit from an average seven per cent reduction next term. In addition, fans have been given an extra three months to find the cash, by which time City will know whether they have qualified for Europe next season. The club's owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group, have already brought eight new players to the club, smashing the British transfer record to sign Robinho for £32.5million (Dh177.3m) from Real Madrid. Shay Given's arrival from Newcastle United last month completed another busy transfer window and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has now turned his attention to helping out the fans of the club. "Our season-card holders are the cornerstone of this club and, since our arriving here, we have listened to their feedback and their concerns on a great range of issues," he said. "By pushing back the date for season-card renewals we hope to make some small difference to the supporters who follow the team every week. "We have also sought to respond to fans' concerns on pricing and hope that the price freezes in some areas and discounts in most areas of the ground will be welcomed."

*PA Sport