Bobbins in cash pledge for Linnets

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins yesterday pledged to plough the club's record season ticket and shirt sponsorship sales into the Linnets' Blue Square North promotion pot.

Bobbins confirmed more than £25,000 had been raised through the club's shirt sponsorship ballot while season ticket sales have already reached a ten year high.

Lynn's ticket office at The Walks will open specially this Saturday (9am to noon) to cope with growing demand ahead of the Linnets' maiden Conference campaign.

“It's really exceeded expectations,” said Bobbins. “The response to the shirt sponsorship has been phenomenal. We've attracted something like 50 individuals or companies - that is double what we managed last year. Its shows there is a growing interest in the club and a belief about what we are trying to achieve. I don't think that has been there for a year or two. People have heard us say it in the past but now they are getting behind us. Anything we raise that is surplus revenue will go towards Keith (Webb) and Lee's (Glover) efforts to improve the playing squad. We have one or two ground improvements as well but that is very much the ethos of the club.”

Lynn pulled out of the chase for Blue Square Premier hitman Daryl Clare last week. Bobbins confirmed the club had also tracked Barnet striker Anthony Thomas yesterday who joined Stevenage.

“We looked at him earlier in the season,” said Bobbins. “He was based in north west London and felt the travel would be too much. There was also plenty of other clubs interested so I'm not surprised Stevenage fit the bill - particularly with us now in the North.

“Daryl Clare was a whole different financial ball game. Keith and Lee are busy targeting northern based players. The game is changing with money dribbling down from the Conference to our level. Players in the past who I would consider we were offering a handsome wage now expect considerably more. Things like signing on fees also come into play.

“But as a board we don't rule out paying transfer fees. If Keith and Lee identify a player who they feel is good enough then we will endeavour to obtain them. That said, we are not going to take King's Lynn in a different direction to the path the club has taken over the last four or five years. We will not overstretch the club but work within the budget.”

Bobbins insisted the club is confident of plotting a successful Blue Square North campaign after initially appealing for a South switch.

“We did ask the question, but we didn't push the issue so now we move on,” said Bobbins. “Redditch was keen to stay in the North so we felt there might be an opportunity but we are still quite positive. We looked at it from various levels, notably the travel. I'm not suggesting this will happen for one minute but Workington on a Tuesday night might be a horrendous journey.”

The Linnets' chief also clarified speculation Lynn must introduce crowd segregation following their elevation into the conference set up.

“No, there is no obligation to do that,” said Bobbins. “The situation only applies if we feel with certain clubs coming here it might be appropriate to introduce segregation for particular games. Regarding the ground itself, improving our floodlights is an on going issue with the flux levels. There are certain grants we can apply for and as anyone knows that tends to slow things down a little.”

t Contact John Fincham at the club on 01553 760060 for further information on either entering the shirt sponsorship ballot or season ticket sales. Supporters have until May 31 to take advantage of a season ticket price freeze pegged at 2007/08 prices. Details on casual match day admission and vice president tickets will be announced in due course.

Season ticket prices up to and including May 31:

Seating: Adult £170.00, concessions £105.00, children (aged 15 and under) £50.00. Standing only: Adult: £155.00, concessions: £90.00, children (aged 15 and under) £35.00. A Main Stand family season ticket (admitting two adults and two children) costs £400.00.