BURNLEY season ticket holders will have to pay up to an extra £30 to watch the Clarets at Turf Moor next season - regardless of what division they are playing in.

And fans paying at the gate at individual matches will have to find an extra £1 or 50 pence for under-16s and over-65s.

The club has announced its first rise in season ticket and match-day admissions since 1996 after holding prices for the last three seasons.

The increases have been introduced to cover increased costs at Turf Moor, notably a bigger players' wage bill, and to support manager Stan Ternent in the transfer market.

To watch Burnley from a seat in the upper level of the James Hargreaves Stand for the 23 home matches of the 1999/2000 season will cost £295 instead of the £266 fans have been charged for the last three years.

To turn up on an individual match basis will cost £15 and £7.50 for concessions instead of the current £14 and £7.

However, there are reductions available to supporters in all areas buying their tickets before June 12, with the James Hargreaves Stand price dropping to £265 for an adult and £132 for concessions, an increase of £27 for adults. And the club is offering attractive reductions for families with an under-16 buying a season's pass with an adult in all concession areas paying half the normal concession rate.

A juvenile buying a ticket with an adult for the East Stand upper level will therefore pay just £50 if they buy it before June 6, working out at just £2.17 per match.

Director Clive Holt pointed out that the rise in ticket prices over the period since the last increase works out at less than 2.5 per cent a year, less than the rate of inflation over that time. He added: "Players' wages have increased substantially over the last few years and this price increase is required to bridge some of the gap.

"We hope supporters appreciate that this is the main reason an increase is necessary.

"Your board is committed to supporting the football management as much as is humanly possible in obtaining the best players available to us."

The club is in a bit of a no-win situation in fixing next season's prices without knowing the Clarets League status.

The board has made an early announcement to allow supporters maximum chance to buy at the reduced rate.

And even if Burnley don't win their fight to stay up, they say that costs will remain the same and Ternent will need to be in a position to buy.

"We are not thinking in those terms. We are thinking positively but God forbid if that was to happen the harsh reality is that we need money. If we wanted to get out of that situation we would need money," added Holt. "We are in a better position and are able to support the football management to some tune but the fans are also part of it and have to play their part. We are all paying the price for the Bosman situation."

The new season tickets can be ordered from today and existing ticket holders will be able to reserve their current seat up to and including May 28 by making payment in full.

The club is drawing up details of an easy payment plan, which will be announced shortly, and payment via credit card is also available.

Full season ticket prices at Turf Moor for the 1999/2000 season are (current prices in brackets):

Vice-presidents (excluding car park), £850 (£775) before June 12 rising to £950 (£875);

100 Club (excluding car park), £650 (£550) to £750 (£650).

Bob Lord Stand, £230 (£204) to £255 (£228), match-day £13 (£12)

Under-16/over-65, £115 (£102) to £128 (£116), match-day £6.50 (£6)

James Hargreaves Stand upper level, £265 (£238) to £295 (£266), match-day £15 (£14),

Under-16/over-65, £132 (£120) to £148 (£134), match-day £7.50 (£7)

James Hargreaves Stand lower level, £230 (£204) to £255 (£228), match-day £13 (£12)

Under-16/over-65, £115 (£102) to £128 (£116), match-day £7.50 (£6) East Stand upper level, Family adult £200 to £215, match-day £11

Under-16/over 65, £100 to £110, match-day £5.50

East Stand lower level popular adult, £180 (£153) to £200 (£170), match-day £10 (£9)

Cricket Field Stand (visitors only), match-day £13 (£12)

Under-16/0ver-65, £6.50 (£6)

Family concessions are available at 75 per cent off the appropriate adult prices for a under-16 buying a ticket with an adult.

Meanwhile, the Clarets penultimate game of the season away to Wigan Athletic has been moved back a day to Bank Holiday Monday, May 3 (kick-off 3.00).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.