Bain underlines surcharge merits

Bain addresses Rangers shareholders at the club's annual meeting

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain has encouraged SPL clubs to accept the 5% away ticket surcharge implemented by the Old Firm earlier this season.

Celtic and Rangers have begun charging other SPL clubs an administration fee for selling tickets to fans of the Glasgow clubs for away games.

But some clubs have rejected the idea and increased prices for away tickets.

"SPL clubs do not recognise what the number of travelling Rangers supporters bring to the economy," said Bain.

Increased away ticket prices and clubs selling away tickets directly to Old Firm fans has, in some cases, resulted in added expenditure for Rangers' travelling fans.

However, Bain still believes the surcharge is a viable plan and feels the other SPL clubs need to recognise the financial contribution made by travelling supporters.

"It is about time they did and it is my intention to make sure they stop disadvantaging our supporters by putting prices up," he said.

"If they can't recognise that is not the way to go, they need to have a long, hard think to themselves.

"At the weekend, for St Mirren to put prices up for Rangers supporters with a difference of £6 or £7 to other parts of the ground was shocking.

The 5% levy was introduced and promoted by this football club to advantage Rangers supporters, not disadvantage them Rangers chief executive Martin Bain

"We want to make other clubs in the SPL wake up and smell the coffee and realise this football club and our supporters will not subsidise them without recognition.

"The 5% levy was introduced and promoted by this football club to advantage Rangers supporters, not disadvantage them."

Bains stresses that other clubs in the Scottish Premier League benefit from up to four matches per season against the Old Firm, with away grounds normally filled to capacity when either half of the Glasgow duo visit, and he feels that supporters should not be punished for their loyalty.

"A total of £2.5m worth of tickets is sold on behalf of other SPL clubs which benefit them and their economy," he said.

"Rangers supporters, in recent times, have paid for that by way of a booking fee and it was our sole intention to alleviate that cost to our own supporters.

"I'm trying to hold firm with the other clubs on the 5% levy. I have spoken to the SPL about this issue and to many other directors of other football clubs.

MY SPORT: DEBATE What do SPL fans think about the Old Firm away ticket levy?

"Now I am sitting at the juncture where I either persevere in the hope clubs recognise what I've set out to do or have to revisit the 5% levy in relation to prices."

Bain also believes that it may be later in the season before opposition clubs realise the benefits of the surcharge.

"It is all very well at the start of the season when the weather is a little better and clubs can sell debt to our supporters," he said.

"But, when the winter comes and our supporters don't have the convenience of a ticket delivered to their doorstep, things could change.

"These clubs could then look at numbers and a possible drop in sales - which I hope doesn't happen - and they'll then realise the 5% levy is a good deal."