Town hoping for cash boost

Town are hoping a first season in the same division as Fylde coast rivals Blackpool will help boost ticket sales.

And despite an increase in prices, the club has been impressed by the take-up so far.

Town’s average gate last season was 3,522, with more than 80,000 people watching League One football at Highbury last season.

With an increase in the number of North-West derby clashes – Bury, Wigan and Blackpool all coming into the division for the 2015/16 campaign – Town will be hoping to see that figure edge up again, having grown their gates every season since promotion to the Football League. And according to ticket office manager Steve Metcalf, Town are well on course.

He said: “It has been non-stop. We have first time fans coming in and supporters who have watched the club for years.”

Town may find themselves with a further windfall this month should former star Jamie Vardy make his England debut.

The club is understood to have written an international appearance clause into the £1m deal which took the 28-year-old to Leicester City and will be due a six-figure sum should be make his Three Lions bow.

Vardy is in Roy Hodgson’s squad for Sunday’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin and for the Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia seven days later.

Such a cash boost would be very welcome for Town boss Graham Alexander as he continues to rebuild his squad on limited resources – Fleetwood have invested heavily in their new training complex at Poolfoot Farm in Thornton and are constrained by Financial Fair Play rules.

Boss Alexander has hinted he may turn to the Premier League to bolster his numbers via loan deals with rising stars.

He watched an under-21 game between Manchester City and Manchester United last week and is leaving no stone unturned in the hunt for potential signings.

Of Town’s summer captures so far, only Amari’i Bell and Declan McManus are set to go straight into the first team with the remainder of Town’s early signings- likely to have to prove themselves in Barry Nicholson’s development squad.