Newcastle United have confirmed they lost 5,000 season ticket holders in their summer of discontent that followed Rafa Benitez’s departure.
The club have seen attendances drop this season and in December announced that all season ticket holders in the second half of the campaign.
That was a move that proved divisive in the fanbase but did lead to the confirming their first ‘sell-out’ of the season against Everton on December 28.
But the true scale of the drop after a summer in which Benitez left and Steve Bruce took over has been revealed in one of the first of the new fans forum-style meetings with supporter groups.
In the latest email bulletin from the Newcastle United Supporters Trust, there is a report on the club’s meeting with ticketing officials at the club. And it confirmed approximate season ticket holder numbers according to club officials.
“Club has around 30,000 season ticket holders, a drop of around 5000, and around 10000 have taken the free season ticket offer,” the email read.
Newcastle’s season ticket numbers remain healthy in comparative terms but that represents a big drop in one close season, and with many fans on ten year deals nearing the end of that the Magpies will be concerned about numbers through the turnstiles.
Many fans have announced their intention to boycott matches as long as Mike Ashley remains in charge, with pressure group Toon for Change calling the season ticket giveaway a “kick in the teeth”.
