Climb down on tickets

By Stephen 18
March 4 2005

Millwall this week made an extraordinary climb down on tickets for the West Ham game when it emerged that they had not consulted the supporters club. (Old habits die hard perhaps for the outgoing hierarchy!)

In a move that hints at incoming chairman Jeff Burnige’s promise of establishing a fans ‘revolution’ at the Den, he ordered the removal of a website announcement stating that tickets for the derby match at West Ham on April 16 were to be available by postal application only, after the MSC claimed they were totally unaware of the plans.

The club hastily replaced the message with confirmation that it would only announce its ticketing policy for the Upton Park clash after a full consultation with the MSC.

Tuesday’s events came on the same day that the supporters club committee made a u-turn on its decision three weeks ago to stand down at the end of the season, after Burnige convinced them that supporter relations would change for the better.

The MSC had made clear their intentions to resign just four days prior to the announcement that Burnige would succeed current chairman Theo Paphitis, on the grounds of a communication breakdown with the club.

But after meeting up with Burnige, chair Beverley Fenn was impressed by what he could offer.

She said: “Jeff was very persuasive and passionate in his reasons for wanting the present committee to reconsider and what he wanted for the supporters of our club.”

He promised a revolution in the relationship between the club and its supporters, consisting of all communication taking place direct – rather than through a go-between.

Burnige also pledged to canvas a vote on membership and season ticket application forms to decide whether to change the club’s badge to the ‘Roaring Lion’ style. If supporters demand it, the new badge could adorn the kit as early as next season.

Burnige said: “I went to the meeting with my own teamcard because I have been a member since the organisation’s conception.

“There will be a revolution with the fans. The lines of communication will be direct to me via my mobile phone, which is ideal.

“Amazingly, the first test came about on the same day as the MSC made their announcement to stay on. Beverley Fenn rang me, and told me that the ticket information for the West Ham game had been put on the official website – without my prior knowledge. I intended there to be consultation so I had it taken off in fifteen minutes.”

Of the Upton Park clash, Burnige added: “I imagine that our 7,000 season ticket holders will snap up the 2,100 tickets. It’s important that the right people get the opportunity to see Millwall play West Ham.”

Members are being asked to decide how they want the tickets to be distributed from the following options:

- By post on a first come first served basis.

- By queue. First come first served, maximum 4 season tickets per person, with the MSC purchasing for those that live too far to travel (as they did last season).
- By post, and if more than 2100 applications are received, a ballot overseen by the MSC will take place on a given date.

You can e-mail your views to the MSC on millwallfansmsc@hotmail.com or phone 07891 008947.