BURNLEY are to freeze prices for matchday admission and season tickets next season.

And that does not depend on Saturday's relegation showdown.

"I think in view of the poor season we have had we felt we could not increase the prices." said club secretary John Howarth.

But the club has reserved the right to increase match day prices for occasional games should match day costs increase.

If the Clarets do go down some fans may feel short-changed at paying Second Division prices for Third Division football.

But with no increase in prices for three years the club feel supporters are still getting value for money.

"This has no bearing on what happens on Saturday and we just hope Lady Luck is on our side and everything goes to plan and we stay up," added Howarth.

Fans are being informed about prices at the usual time ahead of any takeover developments to allow them to plan their budgets.

All 6,000 existing season ticket holders will be able to reclaim their seats from May 20 to June 13 at a discount rate. Unclaimed seats will then go on open sale at a discount for a week before becoming available at the standard price.

However, the 230 season ticket holders who currently sit in the North Stand lower tier are to be asked to take up alternative seats as the club is not planning to use that area apart from big demand games.

The club will save around £2,000 a game in costs by doing so and season ticket holders will be individually contacted and offered seats in the upper tier or Bob Lord Stand for the same price. Meanwhile supporters are advised to buy tickets early for Saturday's relegation-decider with Plymouth with the Bob Lord and East Stand already sold out.

The club is also asking fans to arrive early to avoid problems getting into the ground with a crowd of around 18,000 expected, including over 2,000 from Plymouth.

The Turf Moor ticket office will be open until 7pm tomorrow night. Concessions must be bought from the ticket office before the game.

New York-based tycoon Ray Ingleby is also trying to fly in for the game, business commitments permitting.

Andy Payton will definitely start despite being substituted at Oldham with a recurring groin problem and Paul Smith is back in contention after appearing for the reserves last night.

Chris Waddle will need to check his own fitness before deciding on the line-up.

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