Recession drives footie fans away from Premier clubs

London, July 29 (ANI): A third of football fans plan to go to fewer matches this season as recession bites, according to a new survey.

Premier League teams that could lose the most supporters are Arsenal, champions Manchester United and Liverpool.

Tens of thousands of cash-strapped supporters are turning to lower league football.

The Virgin Money survey showed that the average match day now costs supporters more than 100 pounds for their ticket, food, travel and drink - up 15 per cent on last season and 28 per cent up from 78 pounds three years ago.

Across the four leagues, 30 per cent of regular match-goers have decided to go to fewer live games this season because of the cost. Of those supporters, 22 percent intend to follow a cheaper lower league club.

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, said huge player transfer fees and wages were "obscene" as hard-up fans struggle to support their sides.

"It is almost as if Planet Football thinks it is separate from the rest of the world," the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

"In a recession, fans are still being expected to fork out more to attend games," he added. (ANI)