West Brom cut cost of tickets for top games at The Hawthorns - but increase category B prices

The club today announced they will cut Category A prices for matches against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United from £39 to £35 for adults.

However, they have introduced a new £30 price band for Category B games – up from £25 last season. Adult ticket prices for Category C games remain at £25.

The club will also delay announcing which games will fall into which category until closer to the match date in case fixtures have to be moved to accommodate TV requirements.

“It is a bit like the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away,” admitted Albion supporters' club chairman Homer, who thinks winning is the best way to tackle dwindling attendances.

“It would be preferable if they didn’t go up. We’ve benefited in other areas, some season ticket holders have saved money.

“But if your team is successful, I think you’re prepared to pay, so it depends on how we start. You pay to see a winning team.

“It all depends on what goes on on the pitch, that’s the bottom line.”

Unlike last season, when each game’s category was decided in June, Albion will not categorise matches until they release the tickets on sale in order to react when fixtures against bigger teams are moved for television.

But home fans buying single tickets will still pay more for Category A games than away fans, because away tickets are capped at £30 in the Premier League.

“It’s a pity we couldn’t equalise it,” said Homer. “But that’s not something that’s just done at the Albion, it’s everywhere.

“I don’t think it’s viable to have a cap on home tickets, but the one for the away fans is good.

“I remember paying £52 for a Chelsea ticket and coupled with the travel that becomes a very expensive day.

“Away fans are responsible for the atmosphere at a lot of game now, so I’m not too fazed. If it’s a fiver more, it’s a fiver more.”

Last season, there were eight Category A games, three Category B games, and eight Category C fixtures. Homer was pleased to see the £39 Category A ticket reduced.

"They're obviously looking at ways to encouraging more people to come to the ground and if reducing that means people can go see the football a little cheaper, that's got to be good," he said. "The other thing is that some of those games will be chosen for TV so perhaps it's another attempt to wean people off the box."

Attendances have dwindled at The Hawthorns for the past four years and last season’s average of 23,876 is the lowest the club has experienced in the Premier League.

New chief executive Martin Goodman introduced an early-bird season ticket with a five per cent reduction in order to tackle the problem.

Although the deadline for buying them was at the start of June, Goodman has declined to comment on sales because he is unsure of how successful the early-bird scheme has been until all season tickets are purchased.

Last year, season ticket sales fell to around 16,000 from just below 18,000 the season before.

Albion's opening game of the season at home to Bournemouth has been classed a Category C game and tickets, which are now available online, will cost £25 for adults.