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Football London
Football London
Sport
Joe Doyle

Crystal Palace facing increased fan backlash over season tickets

Crystal Palace supporters group the Holmesdale Fanatics have called on the club to repay the fans' loyalty and freeze season tickets until next season.

Palace recently announced minimal changes to the season ticket renewal process following concerns raised by influential fanzine Five Year Plan.

Senior concession season ticket holders wishing to defer their ticket no longer have to provide any evidence of their health status - though that is not the same case for all other season ticket holders.

Crystal Palace reporter Joe Doyle previews the new season

Another big issue has been the use of third-party company V12 Retail Finance that are being used by the club for supporters who wish to spread the cost of the ticket across the season.

Fans were only notified on the completion page of the process that a credit check is needed to progress, thus ruling out a number of supporters who may not be able to pass such checks.

And fan group Holmesdale Fanatics are now calling on the club to follow Wolves' lead by freezing all season tickets for the forthcoming season, and instead sell them on an individual ballot process given the lack of available seating.

"The fanbase is rightly angry about the season ticket situation," the group said in a statement. "As supporters our loyalty is unquestionable and in the recent past our direct financial support and actions have twice helped sustain the club through its darkest hours of administration.

"This is a time of uncertainty where many Palace supporters have lost their jobs or face other financial hardships.

"To ask the fanbase to pay retainers to keep seats and to use third party credit checks to turn away loyal fans both penalises and takes advantage of that loyalty.

"We back the good work from FYP on this issue and call on the club to rethink their proposals immediately and refund those who have already made payments.

"Wolves have frozen season tickets until next year and will operate match tickets on an individual ballot system.

"We call on Palace to do the same.

"As a group we will be taking a stand and will not be paying the retainer. We will fight for the rights of all fellow supporters who choose to do the same.

"In times of uncertainty and financial struggles a community comes together to support one another.

"It is now time for the club to support that community and respect the loyalty the fans have shown."

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