St. Jason

I agree 100%, I don't think this is Luker's doing, this from the top and very misguided!

I'd guess that Mr. Liehber run's his other business with good communication to it's customers! For me, I always use the instalment plan for my 2 season tickets, it's just easy for me. If Mr. Liehber had communicated with me, his paying customer earlier I would of indeed put some money away and purchased them in one hit, today! Note, pfc are not in the place they find themselves now because they offered an instalment plan, they are there for gross mis-management, signing players for £9m and paying them £80k has killed them!! Oh and old twitchy had a hand in it as well!

Benji, mate, how are the club subsidising anything, it's us that are subsidising the club. We are paying up front for a product we have no knowledge of quality. Putting your business hat for a min, we are the only club not to offer this facility in league 1, probably in all the leagues, we are, we're on a wave of optimism, price the tickets right and keep the payment plan we'd of out sold last years total, I'll be amazed if we get anywhere near that total now!!

If things are that tight get a bloody shirt sponsor then. The life blood of any football club is it's fans, by alienating a proportion of your paying customers your in effect cutting your income. DD and the like keep saying "get a 0% credit card" that's fine for a lot of people, may not be so easy for a student, unemployed, pensioner, poor credit ratings etc. The club in my opinion has scored an own goal, make the product exciting and accessible and you'll succeed!

I don't think I'm owed anything from the club other than to be communicated to and respected as a paying customer. I can't think of any other organisation that would not notify it's paying customers of future policy changes, will none that want to keep their paying customers anyway!

Andy, your taking it as fact that this has happened, you have no proof at all, Mr. Luker has said it's a cost cutting exercise as the admin charge was to high!

Then maybe just get rid of season tickets completely if they are worried about fans getting freebies, I know of at least 4 people that have "lost" their season ticket and let a mate use the duplicate for a game, I cant't be alone in knowing someone who's done this! My point being that any fan can fraudulently enter the ground, be it a payment plan customer or someone who's paid up front!

Because we love our club and have had season tickets for years and have purchased them via the payment plan. We've had no reason to save, or make alternative arrangements as we'd not been advised that this facility was to be removed. As has been said time and again, if we'd been advised this was to happen, we'd of saved! I don't think there was any credit checks before as I'd probably of failed, I'm not borrowing any money just entering an agreement tp pay £x each month in advance for tickets!

Dear Jason The Supporter Charter relates to the 09-10 season, whereas the prices released relate to the 10-11 season. The Club has decided against offering an installment payment option this year due to the increased costs of administering such a scheme. We hope this answers your query. Kind Regards David Luker Head of Supporter Services Southampton Football Club

Another snippet from the great 'Supporters Charter' 09-10 SEASoN TArgETS • On occasions we will actively seek feedback from our supporters with regards to ticket prices of forthcoming cup ties • Via our Supporter engagement policy, we will seek feedback on ticket prices for forthcoming seasons in an attempt to ensure maximum supporter buy in. Can't remember being asked if I thought it'd be a good idea to increase ticket prices or remove the payment plan??

It's a real awkward one this isn't it, I hated Lowe because he was such a media whore. I like the way NC gets on with stuff but we need a statement, you can't just take away a long standing facility which ultimately hurts a lot of people, with just a little footnote in a news article.

Mr. Luker has kindly replied to my e-mail which I've pasted here for you to read, I have replied to him and await his reply which, of course I'll share with you all! Dear Jason The Supporter Charter relates to the 09-10 season, whereas the prices released relate to the 10-11 season. The Club has decided against offering an installment payment option this year due to the increased costs of administering such a scheme. We hope this answers your query. Kind Regards David Luker Head of Supporter Services Southampton Football Club My reply - Dear David Thank you very much for your reply, it's extremely appreciated but I still need clarification on one point, why take away the payment plan option now? If this had been released back in January or even March fans could have made alternative arrangements ie saved a small amount each week, but by just releasing this on the day we have no option at all, stump up or give up your season ticket. I own a small business and understand that cost's have to be cut, I get that, but to risk loosing a significant portion of your customer base at this delicate economic time is madness. If all the websites and poll's are to be believed this could be a massive own goal as fans with more than one ticket are going to really struggle, how can a family of 4 be expected to find £1000 in 30 days? Where was the fan consultation, which was also set out in the 'Supporters charter'? I would really appreciate your thoughts and input. Unfortunately I will fall into the non renew bracket as I cannot find the money for 2 season tickets in such a short space of time. Kind regards, Jason

I personally know of 8 that cannot afford to stump up the cash in one hit, other commitments are more essential, ie mortgage, tax, insurance etc. if we'd been advised early we could of all made plans, shame as I think this is going to be a great season but i just cannot stump up for 2 NOW!

Cucumber? Peasant! Move your seat to Itchen North, there you can now have a chair for yourself, Your sandwich, a flask, your French fancy's and one to rest your coat, hat and cane on!

Release a statement immediately - Southampton FC would like to advise fans that due to a small number of fans defrauding us and abusing the payment plan we have no alternative but to cancel the payment plan with immediate effect. This unfortunately has resulted in us having to delay the release of season ticket detail as all the literature now needs reprinting. We hope you understand and will bear with us. Kind regards, Big Nic Easy really isn't??

At least we'd know what was going on. I for one would not be bothered if NC came out and publicly stated this was the case, who would be? The bottom line is if this was the case, the club would of had this information months ago so still should of told us!

Of course this is a possibility but surely this information would of been available some 8 months ago as that's when payments would of been missed. So the club could still of given us the notice required to save!!

The obvious thing is no warning, fan's have had the ticket for years paying on the plan then from nowhere bang, this option is taken away, no explanation no nothing.

Confusing messages being sent though mate aren't there. One hand Cortesse says he's "rewarding the fans with no shirt sponsorship" then he's taking away the payment plan with no warning, in many peoples eyes penalising fans! With regards to the business sense in waiting for the CCC as it makes better financial sense, surely an astute business man would put a clause in any sponsorship package covering promotions as the sponsor would no doubt put in to cover relegation??

That's a bit out of order mate, suggesting that us complaining are somehow glory hunters. If the club want to go down that route then fine, my point and the point of the majority of posters is WARN US, tell us that's your plan the I can save, easy really!

That's the main point though dibby, no advance warning, also for a lot of people it's not just 1 season ticket and that's why the payment plan appealed to many a fan, especially appealing for the family! Ps. I don't prescribe to the other point about not posting, that's what these sites are for, opinions!

If we can afford to dump our shirt sponsor then surely we can afford to look after the people that make this club so great, the fans, all of the fans not just the ones who can afford it NOW!!

I hope your right mate, I just feel the whole saga stinks. If they'd said months ago that the payment plan was to removed i could have saved for it, no problems at all and in all honesty would probably preferred to have done that, but with no notification i just thought I'd carry on the way I was!

Yes of course, your right, it was never a standing order was it, it was a straight stand alone purchase.

A bit sad I know but what else can we do?? http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127219507306704&ref=mf#!/group.php?gid=127219507306704&ref=mf