Hibs make renewed call for play-off cash rethink

HIBERNIAN have again called for a revamp of the play-off rules as they conceded defeat in their bid to admit season ticket holders for free.
The announcement came a day after Rangers backed down on their plans. Picture: JPThe announcement came a day after Rangers backed down on their plans. Picture: JP
The announcement came a day after Rangers backed down on their plans. Picture: JP

The Easter Road club said yesterday that they would be charging £15 for adults and £10 for concessions for the Premiership play-off semi-final against Queen of the South or Rangers on 23 May.

The announcement came a day after Rangers backed down on plans to admit season ticket holders for free by announcing £5 admission charges.

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Hibs recently failed in a bid to halve the levy payable to the Scottish Professional Football League to 25 per cent of gross income and were told that their stance on making season tickets valid for last season’s play-off against Hamilton was only allowed on a one-off basis because they had sold them before the rules were in place.

Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster said: “I would have liked to be announcing that we were able to allow our season ticket holders in for free but we have been left in no doubt by the board of the SPFL that to do so would be to breach the rules on differential pricing.”

Hibs received a £500,000 parachute payment for going down through the play-offs and will be due another £250,000 if they do not go straight back up.

Dempster added: “We fully accept that the levy is intended to help fund clubs through relegation. Our experience of the competition and the interaction and expectations of supporters has led us to the conclusion that collectively we need to re-evaluate the current rules, particularly in relation to season ticket holders. This will help to avoid future conflict between clubs, their supporters and the league body.

“The introduction of the play-offs is a good thing for Scottish football, but for us, the outcome regarding season tickets has been disappointing at a time when Scottish football needs to do more to promote the game.”