dune

If you want to understand the future you need to understand the past.

That will depend on who can afford the petrol and the booking fee. The impression I get is that Nicola Cortese is following the Ken Bates model of chairmanship. I believe that over the coming years many more fans will be priced out of supporting Saints if Nicola gets his way.

Perhaps the pair of you could for once try debating the issue. You clearly disagree so try to articulate why you disagree.

Under the old system had you in effect payed the installment before the fixture, i.e were you always in advance?

When I failed to receive my JPT final tickets I rang the ticket office to find out what was what and was told that Nicola Cortese had personally taken charge of the selling arrangements. So he clearly fancies being the ticket office manager...

I've not mentioned Markus Liebherr, this thread is not about the clubs owner, it's about Nicola Cortese.

He had slack when he joined us. I will continue to judge him on his actions. I was very impressed with him at the start, but now the alarm bells are starting to ring in the distance.

It's all about economies of scale. We're no different to Exeter in that respect given the size of our respective grounds.

Are you saying that we are a badly administered club now?

I think a lot of people are forming an opinion of Cortese now, both as a person and as chairman of the football club. I think the honeymoon is over.

Or maybe they're hoping for less renewals so they can wallop fans with hefty new season ticket prices for season 2011/12. Whatever the logic Cortese has shot himself and therefore the club in foot in terms of PR. He has created ill feeling where there was none and these situations have a habit of being hard to undo.

Since when did a football chairman have immunity from discussion?

I thought Crouchie went abroad.

That was my all time favourite kit.

But surely you're not receiving the purchase until you've attended the game. Therefore should anyone fail to make a payment they lose their season ticket. It's not a hire purchase agreement so I fail to see any significant risk.

I believe the story for the simple reason that Cortese (or any other chairman) would have rubbished the story earlier if there was no truth in it.

Well said. If we don't have a brilliant season next year all those ST holders Cortese has driven out won't turn up. This isn't what I want to happen, but if it does happen it'll be just what he deserves.

And what's the point you're making?

We'll see. When we're next in the Premier League you'll be looking at £40 + the ticket tax I reckon.

Yeah, and it's a fact that SFC has a large fanbase outside of Southampton that form a sizeable chunk of our away following. This £3 Ticket Tax is going to add a considerable amount to the overall cost over a season.

By leaving it to paying on the day there is a risk of not getting in and by paying on the day you often have to pay more. I'm glad you're finding this all funny btw.

We'll see how many are still enjoying the ride when the ticket prices are up there with Chelsea's.

That's fine for people who can make it to St Marys regularly, but for those who can't, but can make more local away games, it doesn't help.

This is not trolling. I'm ******-ed off about it. I don't live locally so all my purchases are done over the phone so from now on if I buy home or away tickets i've got to add the £3 ticket tax onto the cost every time. It's another expense and it's a rip off.

It's the thin end of the wedge.