SAINTS are not even keeping pace with many of their Premiership rivals - despite increasing their season ticket prices by around 15 per cent.

Chairman Rupert Lowe has stressed the admission charges are symptomatic of a general problem of exploding wages in the game with many other clubs ask-ing even more.

West Ham's most expensive seats will be £675 and their cheapest £431, an increase of 18 and 13 per cent, on top of a 40 per cent rise a year ago.

Everton are inflicting a 27 per cent rise on their dearest seats which go up to £360 while Chelsea's best seats will go for £1070, their cheapest £380.

Wimbledon are £500 and £200, Coventry are £410 and £307 and Sheffield Wednesday are £360 and £230. Saints are in the middle at £425 and £320.

Lowe also had a simple response to SISA complaints that the season ticket prices were not debated at the fans' quarterly meeting held just a few days before the increases were announced.

He said: "No-one asked us about them. The issue was not raised at all. If SISA had wanted to question us about prices they should have come to the meeting.

"They were invited but they chose not to attend.. If they had asked we would have explained that we are in line with most other clubs both in terms of charges and percentage increases. "And we are keeping prices exactly the same for children because we believe they are very important to the future of the club.

"In fact, junior season ticket holders get a slight reduction with the £5 gift voucher to be spent in the club shop. Adults renewing will get £10."

Lowe stresses the voucher is not a cheap gimmick but an important invitation to try out the revamped Saints Shop when it re-opens on July 4 following extensive refurbishment.

He said: "We have taken the club shop, kit and merchandise back in-house which is something the fans have wanted for a long time.

"But that too costs money. There is considerable outlay on refurbishment and we have had to pay for stock up front so there is a cash flow problem until the money starts coming in.

"However every pound now goes to us not Wembley. We know the shop needed improving and hopefully the voucher will persuade fans to re-appraise it and give it a second chance."

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