'It's Spiralling' - Keith Wyness: Leeds fans could now turn their backs on the club

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Leeds United could see fans stop going to games after ticket price increases and the introduction of more hospitality seating.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed football has reached a “tipping point” with supporters with costs of player fees and wages “spiralling”.

Speaking on The Square Ball Podcast (12 September), Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear revealed plans are in place to increase Elland Road’s capacity to 53,000.

As part of that expansion, Kinnear revealed there could be an increase in the number of “premium seats” – insisting it will be a “big step up for supporters”.

Leeds hiked season ticket prices by up to 12% for a percentage of fans in the summer despite the club failing to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Kinnear also revealed the Whites’ season ticket waiting list currently stands at around 22,000.

Leeds could see ‘5-10%’ of fans drop out per season as plans revealed, says Wyness

Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “This is where the problem is in the game.

“The costs of player fees and wages are spiralling and clubs have to find a way to justify them.

“There now seems to be a real tipping point where a percentage of fans each season are starting to drop out.

“Clubs are seeing 5-10% of fans drop out per season, and at the moment tourism is filling that demand.

“At some point, the costs have got to be restrained rather than just passing the increases on to fans.

“It’s food for thought for all of us in the game.”

In other news, Leeds fans stunned as Tottenham swoop for Harry Gray.

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