West Ham Fans 'Had Enough'?

Last updated : 03 June 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor

According to new research from Virgin Money, the cost of attending top-flight games has risen by 12.5% since January 2006 - and the backlash has finally begun.

Research among 3,500 fans of Premier League and Football League teams suggests West Ham will be hit hardest, with a quarter of their supporters failing to renew, followed by relegated Reading (22%) and FA Cup winners Portsmouth (21%).

Chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, Malcolm Clarke, said: "In the difficult financial climate we all face the football industry must wake up and smell the coffee.

"The huge amount of money pouring into the Premier League means there is absolutely no justification for any price rises at all at the top of the game.

"For too long some Premier League clubs have believed there is no limit to the extent to which they can exploit the brand loyalty of their supporters and they may now find this greed will come back to bite them on the backside."