The away ticket controversy that is currently surrounding Scottish football has become a bit of a circus over the last two seasons. First initiated by Rangers, clubs like Kilmarnock, Hearts and St Mirren have all taken steps to reduce away ticketing allocations.
67 Hail Hail has already discussed this week the reasons why Hearts decided to drastically reduce the away ticket allocations last season. It was a move that reduced the number of Celtic fans that were able to watch the team clinch the title at Tynecastle.
We also spoke about how Aberdeen and Livingston appear to be bucking that trend with Aberdeen CEO, Alan Burrows, given more tickets by Livingston for their SPFL trip to the West Lothian club after a midweek request.
And now, Kilmarnock Managing Director, Phyllis McLeish has explained why her club have taken the steps to reduce the number of tickets given to away fans with a warning that the new allocation is here to stay.
McLeish said [Scottish Daily Mail print edition page 111], “We didn’t make that decision as a way to get at Rangers or Celtic or make a stance on anything. Rugby Park is Kilmarnock’s home ground. Why would we want to make that a hostile environment for our fans or our players? That just doesn’t make sense to me.
“It was a bit of a gamble at first, thinking we would make up the money lost. But it paid off because we came up with other initiatives to make sure that happened — and thankfully it has. It was part of our strategy to encourage more families and encourage the next generation, and that has paid off.
“There might be some clubs who rely on the finance from fans of those clubs, who feel unable to turn their fans away. I wouldn’t criticise them for that. Every club has to do what they have to do to make things work.
“But there is no sign of us changing our policy, certainly not in the immediate future.”
Kilmarnock halved our allocation back in 2019. Prior to that, Celtic were given two full stands for their trips to Ayrshire. Just 3969 tickets were allocated to supporters back in April, and whilst that is not the lowest number we have seen, it is still frustrating when you see hundreds of empty seats in photographs and television pictures.
Like I said earlier this week, I do not blame other SPFL clubs for attempting to look after their fans. It’s their duty to do so. But as I mentioned as well, there is no denying that when Celtic visit these teams and the games are broadcast live on television, there are still massive holes in the stands that could have been filled by Celtic fans willing to pay good money for the privilege.
And whilst these cuts that are being implemented are within the rules of the SPFL, it is undeniable that Scottish football run the risk of taking the passion and atmosphere out of our game if the game’s governing body does not step in and try to find a solution.
In other news, “People hated you”; Maik Nawrocki already perfectly understands the Celtic dynamic in Scotland
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