FOOTBALL attendances in the Midlands have plunged with thousands of cash-strapped fans turning their backs on soccer.
Birmingham City and Aston Villa have seen crowds fall every season since 2007, with both clubs currently involved in a relegation dogfight.
Fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion have also seen gates dip this year compared to their last stint in the top flight in 2008/09.
Attendances at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux stadium have slipped over the past 12 months. Yet despite their lowly league position they are among the best supported clubs in the Premier League, with 96 per cent of seats taken for the average game.
In contrast Blues, Villa and West Brom are in the bottom half of the stadium-filling table, with around 15 per cent of their seats remaining empty.
Supporter groups last night blamed a combination of economic conditions, pitch performances, and saturation TV coverage for the slump in matchday crowds.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are the most successful Midland club at packing out their stadium, despite being right in the relegation dogfight.
Their return to the top-flight coincided with a sharp rise in attendances, up from 24,153 to 28,386 but this season figures are down at 27,435.
So the club still lost around 1,000 fans over the past 12 months and is currently selling adult season tickets for next season at £370.
Steve Bishop, head of the fan club, said: “It’s a combination of things. The cost of the games is a major factor for some supporters and there is the TV coverage and everything else.
‘‘But football fans always find a way of getting to the ground, however bad the economy is.”
Matt Grayson, head of marketing for Wolves, said: “We’ve got a long-term strategy to encourage our fans of the future.
“We were named Family Club of the Year in the Championship in 2008 and our Wolves 4 Family Football ticket offer means families can get four tickets for a Premier League game.
“It isn’t just about ticket offers. The club has a family information centre and we are focussed on bringing through the next generation of fans.”
Aston Villa’s average attendance has dropped from more than 40,000 in 2007, to just 36,861 this term despite season ticket prices being as low as £315 for adults. The club has struggled this year following the resignation of former boss Martin O’Neill just days before the start of the season.
New manager Gerard Houllier has failed to win over all fans after sparking a series of controversies. Earlier this month he rested most of his star players for the FA Cup defeat at Manchester City – then reportedly claimed a full-strength team would not have won anyway.
He also came under attack from Villains after earlier losing a Premiership clash at Liverpool, then stating: “If I have got to lose 3-0, I would prefer it to be to them as I like Liverpool.”
The French manager has had to tackle dressing room unrest, with apparent fallings out with star players including defender Richard Dunne and former striker John Carew – now at Stoke.
A banner calling for him to be sacked was unfurled at Villa Park during last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves.
