Managing director explains reasons behind Wigan Athletic's 'very small uplift' in season tickets

Managing director Sarah Guilfoyle acknowledged the club has tried to ' absorb as much cost as we can', but the need to be 'keeping ourselves in a competitive position' in League One led to the difficult decision.

"We'll be looking to launch season tickets in the next couple of weeks," she said. "We've frozen season ticket prices for the last couple of years, and we've tried to absorb as much cost as we can.

"But we're in a position where, unfortunately, we're going to have to put a very small uplift on season tickets...and I want to stress that it is a very small uplift.

"We want to keep watching live football as affordable as possible, but League One is also an incredibly competitive market, and we want to remain competitive.

"Obviously we are in a cost of living crisis, so we don't want to push too much on to supporters, because we never want cost to be a barrier for people to come to watch us.

"As a business though - and wanting to be as transparent as possible - staffing wise we have to also live with minimum wages, the national insurance threshold has gone up...also energy prices, and general costs with running a business, keeping the lights on, is unfortunately more expensive than it was.

"We want to carry on being one of the best value season tickets in League One, but we also have to make sure we're keeping ourselves in a competitive position as well.

"As far as things we can do, we will keep on offering the facility to pay in instalments, and via direct debit, to make sure that cost is spread properly.

"So there will be a small uptick, but we have tried to keep that to as minimum as possible."

Ms Guilfoyle also confirmed Latics will be entering into a new replica kit agreement from next season – with a ‘more local’ supplier – after their deal with existing partners Puma expires this summer.