As a fan base we have been badly let down by our club this season. The turmoil on the pitch has been matched off it when it comes to ticket prices and policies. True fans have been exploited with massive price increases, a lack of concession and youth tickets and the strange policy of selling tickets to members (open to everyone) before STHs. We don’t have to look further than the Liverpool game last week as an example of how badly the club are failing when it comes to tickets, with the first few rows directly behind the goal in the Hammersmith End filled with fans not celebrating Ryan Babel’s goal against his former club. Unashamed Liverpool fans were so obviously in every stand that it was embarrassing.

Seemingly the club doesn’t care about who buys the tickets. If people buy them, Fulham fans or not, they will continue to charge the extortionate prices. The decision to not have reduced prices for concessions and young people is leading to true fans not being able to afford to go. Parents are having to spend a ridiculous amount of money if they want to involve their children in supporting the club, so it’s becoming a massive put off. For me Fulham has always been about family values and inclusion, but with the current ticketing policy, these values seem to be a thing of the past. What an absolute shame.

Our good friends at the Fulhamish Podcast have been particularly vocal over the ticket policy at the club. The #StoptheGreed campaign was supposed to be properly launched this Saturday in the early kick-off against the Champions, with fan funded banners displayed in the Hammersmith End with the aim of making a point to the Fulham authorities that as a fanbase we are not happy with the approach the club is taking. Unfortunately the club has decided to not let the banners into the ground because they don’t want anything, …”not supportive of the team.” Then why flood the home sections of the grounds with Liverpool fans? Why charge so much money that real fans are shunted out in favour of tourists and touts?

When we got promoted last season, Fulham were faced with an opportunity to further increase a swelling fanbase. We may have lost a number of fans following our relegation back in 2014, but over our four years away from the top flight, we gained a heck of a lot of new followers. The brand of football that got us promoted was so attractive and our identity as a family club meant that many people without a club found a home on the banks of the Thames. All that good work has possibly been undone this season, and it’s not because of the shambles on the pitch, it’s what is unfolding off it. I’d advise the club to think carefully about what is next. Stop ignoring the voice of your loyal supporters or else I’d imagine that people will start voting with their feet. We are facing another relegation and club’s in our position need their fans more than ever. Don’t push us away.

#StopTheGreed