MOST season-ticket and matchday prices at Ewood have been increased by Blackburn Rovers for next season - the basic admission charge going up from £16 to £18, writes PETER WHITE.

And chief executive John Williams blamed rising costs, particularly players' wages, for the increases.

He stressed that if Rovers fans wanted to keep a top team, the cost had to be met from the club's income.

But price increases for juniors and senior citizens have been kept down and, in many cases, pegged.

The majority of season tickets will cost £26 more in 1998-99, up from £273 to £299. But the increase is less for concessions and their matchday prices remain unchanged at £10.

Mr Williams, who hopes to hit a target of 17,500 season-ticket sales, today unveiled a package of changes which he believes offers supporters increased value for money.

And season-ticket holders will be eligible for a number of offers such as £100 holiday vouchers, free mobile phones and various discounts.

The direct debit instalment plan, taken up by more than 4,000 fans last season, will be extended from eight months to 10 to help with payments. Rovers are also aiming to introduce a new "Top Tenner" scheme - making a limited number of matchday tickets available for most games at a cost of just £10, recognising that many potential fans cannot afford admission charges.

Next season will see just three Category A games, when prices rise again - against Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.

The top-priced season ticket at Ewood for 1998-99 will cost £399 in the Jack Walker Stand upper central, up from £345. The lowest-priced is £299 (£273) applicable for adults in the Jack Walker lower outer, Blackburn End, Darwen End lower tier and Walkersteel Stands.

Matchday prices in those areas rise from £16-£18 for category B games and, for the three category A matches, from £19-22.

Jack Walker upper outer and lower central season tickets are £340 and £365 respectively, with matchday prices there going up from £19-20. Biggest matchday rise is for the best seats, £25 (from £20) in the Jack Walker upper central. The majority of concessionary season tickets have gone up by just £15 to £162 (£147).

In the Blackburn End upper tier family stand, however, season-ticket prices have been frozen at £124 for juniors and senior citizens, with under-eights still free.

The Premium tickets, including cup ties, have been discontinued.

Mr Williams said: "The prices reflect the fact that our costs have gone up but we believe we have got the balance about right. The biggest item is footballers' wages which are increasing greater than these ticket prices.

"I think the season tickets are good value. We have to keep an eye on what is going on around us and at other clubs but we make our own decisions.

"The most important thing in the football club is the supporter. You have to have a decent relationship with them.

"We have either not increased or only slightly increased at the family end. The biggest increases are at the most expensive end." Mr Williams is looking to try to lift the average crowd towards 28,000 and to build on last year's 15,500 season-ticket holders.

Prices for the pre-season friendly against PSV Eindhoven on Friday, August 7 (8pm kick-off) have yet to be decided.

Rovers' new kit suppliers uhlsport GmbH have a new owner but it will not affect the £4 million Ewood deal.

They have been bought by the Gin Tonic Group, a textiles and sportswear company, following reports that uhlsport had problems

New uhlsport chairman is Gunter Daiss and Mr Williams said: "There was no doubt that some financial structuring was needed and we kept a close watching brief on the situation. "Gunter Daiss has since been to Ewood, we had a very productive meeting and our deal is unaffected by the changes."

Rovers will visit Wolves on Monday July 27 (7.45pm) for Robbie Dennison's testimonial game.

Colin Hendry, Kevin Gallacher and Billy McKinlay are all set for France after being named in Scotland's 22 to face Colombia in New York on May 23 and the USA in Washington a week later.

The squad is: Goram (Rangers), Leighton (Aberdeen), Sullivan (Wimbledon), Boyd (Celtic), Calderwood (Tottenham), Dailly (Derby), Elliott (Leicester), Hendry (Blackburn), Weir (Hearts), Whyte (Aberdeen), T McKinlay (Celtic), Burley (Celtic), Collins (Monaco), Gemmill (Forest), Lambert (Celtic), W McKinlay (Blackburn), McNamara (Celtic), Booth (Borussia Dortmund), Donnelly (Celtic), Durie (Rangers), Gallacher (Blackburn), Jackson (Celtic).

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