WANDERERS are confidently predicting that crowds will continue to rise at the Reebok Stadium next season.

With just five days remaining until the deadline for discounted season tickets, the club are reporting encouraging sales, particularly among Under-18s, Under-21s and Over-65s.

Discounts of 15 per cent on season tickets across the board will be available until Saturday, and the club have stated that there will be no extended deadline, as in previous years.

No figure has yet been put on the total tickets sold but commercial director Gareth Moores, pictured, says there is reason to believe Wanderers will build on last season’s seven per cent gate increase.

“Sales are going very well to date,” he said. “It is always very difficult to judge at this stage because you are not comparing apples with apples – there are different early purchase deadlines every year, so it is difficult to assess completely until they are passed. We are optimistic, though. Times are tough economically and it is hard on people’s pockets but we have been very encouraged by the reaction from supporters not just on the pricing strategy but also by the volume in which they have come forward.

“We’ll have a much clearer picture in 10 days time but we are encouraged that after increasing our attendances year-on-year by nearly eight per cent last season, there will be room for further growth this time too.”

Next season, Wanderers will have eight games against opposition within a one-hour radius, which is another factor that should help the rise in Reebok attendances, claims Moores.

“The fact Stoke and Burnley have been promoted in the last two seasons is tremendous for us,” he said. “They will both bring a lot of fans and create a great atmosphere and that should certainly help to keep the numbers moving in the right direction.”

Wanderers’ decision not to extend the deadline, which has become a matter of course in recent seasons, was prompted by improvements in the club’s ticketing department. Fans will have until Saturday to take advantage of the discounts, and Moores is expecting a busy week.

“We’re trying to give everyone notice because it is later than it has been in the past,” he said. “Previously, we have extended the deadline as a matter of customer service.

“It’s human nature to leave it until the last minute and that often put a huge strain on resources in the ticketing department. By taking that decision in the past, we have released the pressure on the system a little bit.

“This year we have decided not to do that. There is less of a need because we are more able to deal with the number of enquiries thanks to partners like Ticketmaster and our online ticketing system, which has been very successful.”