The Observer:
Manchester United could be faced with empty seats at Old Trafford after increasing ticket prices from next season by up to 24 per cent. Fans' representatives have warned the club that, with the stadium capacity rising to 76,000 by August 2006, the team may have the unusual experience of playing at home without the ground being sold out.
United have responded to a 55 per cent drop in their profits and the predatory circling of American entrepreneur Malcolm Glazer by increasing the price of seats from August by an average 10 per cent, to bring in an extra £4million.
Fans have greeted the announcement with understanding and little outright criticism and accept that demand for tickets outstrips supply by 7,500 seats for every Premiership match. "The club say demand for tickets outstrips supply and that is a difficult statement to argue against," said Jules Spencer, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association.
"But by the time the ground development is finished, apart from the odd one or two big games, I believe we are reaching saturation point.
"We all recognise the pressure being put on David Gill by outside forces but we do not believe the match-going supporters should have to pay the price for money being lost elsewhere in the business."
Also: IMUSA's Mark Longden in the Sunday Times:
"Ordinary fans are being priced out of the game and I’m certain that many will call it a day."