Ipswich Town set to bring in new rule if season ticket holders don't attend Portman Road matches | OneFootball

Ipswich Town are trying to solve their new season ticket issue

Ipswich Town are set to introduce some new rules regarding season ticket usage.

The Tractor Boys have enjoyed an incredible rise over the past few years, going from a League One outfit to the top-flight in successive seasons.

Although they are now back in the Championship, it seems like it may be only a matter of time before the Suffolk outfit operate out of the Premier League once more.

Kieran McKenna’s side have won four of their last six league matches and haven’t been beaten since late October. They currently find themselves fifth in the table, just three points shy of the automatic promotion places.

This increase in competitiveness has also attracted a number of new fans to Portman Road, which means that the number of people on the season ticket waiting list has skyrocketed.

Ipswich Town set to introduce new season ticket usage rules

To try and counteract the growing number of people on the season ticket waiting list, Ipswich Town are set to introduce some new rules which ensure that only the most committed supporters are able to enjoy the privilege.

When speaking to TownTV, the Tractor Boys’ CEO and chairman, Mark Ashton, stated that a significant number of season ticket holders are absent from each match, whilst 6,000 people joined the waiting list to secure a season ticket last month.

Ashton cited that a high number of empty seats can massively affect the atmosphere on a matchday and with so many people eager to become season ticket holders, rules about usage will have to come into place.

“We are going to have to put some rules in place that if there are consistent no-shows of season ticket holders,” stated the Town CEO. “We’ve got to put some rules and regulations in place because actually I’ve got 6,000 people here who want those tickets.

“What we can’t do is therefore have empty seats on matchdays because that affects atmosphere, which affects performance, which affects everything that we’re trying to do.

“So, look out for that as we move through the rest of the season and into the summer because I think how we operate will change.”

Season ticket situation highlights Ipswich Town’s recent growth

The fact that Ipswich Town are having to introduce rules about season ticket usage alongside a waiting list speaks great volumes about how much the club have grown in recent years.

There is clearly a feeling in Suffolk that the Tractor Boys are in a brilliant moment and will soon return to the Premier League, with lots of people wanting to capitalise on that situation by grabbing a season ticket.

Atmosphere concerns are fair for Ashton to hold, especially as little details such as a booming home crowd can have a massive impact in the midst of a promotion race and returning to the Premier League immediately is of the utmost importance to those involved within Ipswich.

It is yet to be seen whether the Tractor Boys can climb into the automatic promotion places this season, but all that is likely to do is drive up the desire to grab a season ticket at Portman Road even further.