Wolves fans remain outraged by the decision to increase season ticket prices – and former football club owner Simon Jordan has now given his take on the situation.
It has been exactly one week since supporters discovered that they would need to fork out a lot more money to renew their season ticket at Molineux for next season.
On average, prices have risen by 17%.
The increases will now stop some of the most loyal supporters from attending, and the fanbase has been furious on this issue on social media.
Old Gold Pack started a petition recently, and it has now garnered over 12,000 signatures. This has been sent to the club, along with an open letter demanding a rethink.
Even people from other fan groups have been supporting the cause, with many feeling this is just plain greed from Wolves.
Now, Simon Jordan has given his verdict on the events of the past week, and he has a predictable controversial opinion…
Simon Jordan asks ‘What’s the problem?’ as Wolves fans rage against season ticket price hikes
This story is growing bigger and bigger.
Big outlets like ITV and BBC Sport have covered what has been going on, and fans are being given a big platform to voice their opinions and bring attention to the issue.
On Wednesday, the story reached talkSPORT – and it was a chance for former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan to give his verdict.
It is perhaps no surprise that he has played things down, as he offered potential reasons for Wolves’ decision.
He said: “I do have empathy with the cost implications in football. But Wolves lost £50 million last year. It’s the fans’ football club, because we’re regularly told we’re just custodians. My money when I was the owner of Palace of course belongs to the football club not me anymore, so I’m just a custodian. So what’s the problem?
“The money is going into the club to buy (the) best players, it’s your club.”
“I find the balance between saying to football fans, and I used to do it at fans forums, ‘is this your club or my club?’ It’s our club. You’re the custodian. OK so then you won’t mind me raising your season ticket prices and redirecting all that money back into supporting your club. ‘Oh no it’s your club then, because you do that’. Well hang on, it’s your club, you’ve told me so your financial contribution is valued. Your financial contribution to the outcome you want is valuable and it all costs money.
“So with that in mind, all the money that we get from this is not going into my pocket, I’m not profiting from it, we’re getting players, better facilities and a better environment for you as fans to watch a team performing in the Premier League and that costs money.”
Jordan also urged Wolves fans to remember what the ownership model has done in terms of helping the club to become established in the Premier League.
It’s out of order from Wolves
It was perhaps inevitable that Jordan would make excuses for Wolves taking the decision they have, with the former Palace owner known for his provocative takes that he often likes to pass off as balancing the argument.
While slightly predictable, it is still disappointing to hear him not come down on Jeff Shi and Fosun and everyone involved in the price hikes at Molineux, which are simply scandalous.
Ultimately, season ticket prices have gone up six years in a row now at Wolves and these latest increases are wholly unjust. The additional revenue this will generate is surely not enough to warrant alienating a huge section of the fanbase.
Fans are well within their rights to be angry, because the price rises come off the back of years of silly decisions by the likes of Shi, with money being wasted on players like Fabio Silva and Goncalo Guedes, and huge wages being paid.
Wolves petition opposing season ticket price hikes can be found here.