Stubbs appointment boosts sales
St Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick has been stunned by the positive reaction from Paisley punters to the appointment of new manager Alan Stubbs.
The Championship winners’ seasonticket sales have spiralled since the former Hibs boss was unveiled as the successor to Championship-winning Jack Ross.
Fitzpatrick claims that, if the trend continues, then the days of handing half of the Simple Digital Arena over to visiting Celtic and Rangers fans may be coming to an end.
The Glasgow giants’ travelling support will receive their usual 50% allocation next season, but Fitzpatrick reckons those days may be coming to an end.
“We generally have just under 3,000 season-ticket holders, but we’ve already sailed past that,” he claimed.
“At the moment, we’re on target to sell over 4,000, which is more than half the capacity of the ground. Right now, Celtic and Rangers fans will be given stands behind each goal next season.
“However, if we keep on improving on the pitch and the interest in the club remains high then next year we could end up giving Celtic and Rangers fans just 400 tickets and putting them in a corner.
“That’s the dream for me. We’ve been grateful to the Old Firm for the support they’ve brought here in the past.
“But, like any other club, we’d rather fill the ground with our own punters and that’s the way it’s heading.”
Saints icon Fitzpatrick – a Scottish Cupwinning captain in 1987 and the only man to have managed the Buddies twice – has been taken aback by the response.
“Sales had been really strong after we won the Championship and, even though there was a lull when Jack left for Sunderland, we’ve had a real upsurge ever since we announced that Alan was taking charge,” he said.
“Him coming has really galvanised the support. The queues are back and that’s wonderful.
“We’re in a really good place at the moment. The club doesn’t have any debt so every season-ticket sold is money going straight into the team.
“The fact that we’ve sold the naming rights to the stadium for the next four years is another major boost for us.
“But the greatest thing for everyone is that next season our derby matches will be against Celtic and Rangers rather than Morton!”