ST ALBANS CITY are to keep admission prices at their basic level for the 2012/13 season as a thanks to core supporters and those who have returned to the club.

It means that adult admission will stay at �10, with entry remaining at �5 for senior citizens and �2 for juniors.

The club will next season be enforcing the �2 transfer cost to seating for adults – �1 for seniors and juniors – however, with the agreement and help of the Saints City Supporters Trust.

Terrace season tickets will remain at a bargain �170 – again meaning four games free for holders – as long as they are bought before the end of May as part of the ‘early bird’ deal.

The early bird seating season tickets will cost �190.

For seniors, the early bird terrace season ticket remains at �85, with �90 for seating.

For juniors, it will be �30 and �35.

From June, terrace season tickets for adults will cost �180 and �195 seated; for seniors �90 and �95 and juniors �35 and �40.

Family tickets – for two adults and two juniors – will remain at the knock-down price of �15.

Saints chairman Ian Ridley, said: “As a board, we have discussed admission prices long and hard and in strict business terms, the basic price of entry should have risen.

“After all, our aim next season is promotion from the Evo-Stik Southern Premier and to recruit the players necessary and finance that aim, we are likely to need an increase in the playing budget.

“However, our co-owner Lawrence Levy has been impressed with our improved gates, up by more than 25 per cent, and he is right to point out that we don’t want to do anything that will interrupt that upward trend or damage the feel-good factor around the club currently.

“I agree with him that loyal supporters also deserve to be rewarded for sticking with the club during difficult times in recent past seasons.

“We hope fans will understand, though, why we are seeking the additional fee for seating, which was waived last season to attract people back, as one way of raising more funds for that promotion bid.

“We also hope supporters will back new club initiatives to raise money, notably the new Saints Snowball for �10 a month.

“This will raise revenue for the club, yes, but will also benefit supporters with monthly cash prize draws and the bonus of significant sums in the big twice-yearly draws, possibly up to �1,000 and more depending on how many people join.”

The club will also be holding a Dinner and Dance at Sopwell House on May 10 that will feature a rare public appearance by Arsenal and England legend Tony Adams, and after that will be announcing a golf day in September.

The club is also hoping to attract new sponsors to the club in the shape of business and even fans.

Ridley added: “Our hope, too, is that groups of supporters might band together to sponsor games next season.

“We will be announcing sponsorship prices soon, and they too will be either pegged or even reduced for next season to be more attractive to companies and other concerns.

“Given the limited facilities available at Clarence Park, we have to be creative with our fund-raising schemes.

“We are looking for our fans to spread the word wherever they can to help us raise those funds necessary to take the club back where we believe it deserves to be, in the Conference South at the very least.”

Season tickets are available at Clarence Park from general manager Steve Eames or by post from him.

He can also accept completed application forms for the new Saints Snowball.