Norwich City sales and marketing chief Andrew Cullen today paid a glowing tribute to the long-term loyalty of supporters as the first deadline for 2006-2007 season ticket renewals passed with the club only 700 down on the same stage last year.

Norwich City sales and marketing chief Andrew Cullen today paid a glowing tribute to the long-term loyalty of supporters as the first deadline for 2006-2007 season ticket renewals passed with the club only 700 down on the same stage last year.

Given that the Canaries were still in with half a chance of retaining their prized Premiership status last March, the fact that 15,500 season ticket-holders have now renewed their tickets as opposed to 16,200 this time last year demonstrates a remarkably robust level of support after such a trying season in the Coca-Cola Championship.

There were gloomy predictions that City would face a big season ticket slump as part of the ongoing protests aimed at under-fire boss Nigel Worthington.

But the waiting list for season tickets has lengthened by a further 500 people from the 1,100 mark it stood at in November.

With 1,600 fans in the queue to be offered any unwanted season tickets and the club maintaining its current season ticket cap of 20,096, there is every chance that City will still be playing to nigh-on full houses again next August - whoever is manager.

That 15,500 figure is also over 5,000 better than this time in 2004 when the Canaries were on course to win the 2003-2004 Championship title and earn themselves a place in the Premiership. Then the first deadline for renewals saw 10,384 supporters make the plunge.

“What we've got to say is a big, big thank you to all those season ticket-holders who have renewed in such numbers,” said Cullen - well aware that for many it was not an easy decision.

“We're well aware that people have thought long and hard about it - as they've made clear to us in their letters and on their renewal forms,” said Cullen. “People have made clear their disappointment at the position that we've found ourselves in this season.

“But, as many of them have said, Norwich City Football Club is a big part of their lives and they're prepared to look towards the longer term.

“And, from the football club's point of view, that's very, very important. For the supporters are a vital part of our success as a football club. Getting such good numbers gives us that stability going forward and is important when it comes to talking to potential new sponsors and, indeed, potential new finance deals.”

The take-up of season tickets is even more pronounced in the so-called corporate seats in such areas of the ground as the 101 Club, Top Of The Terrace and the Ambassadors' Club. So far City have received 603 renewals as opposed to 405 last year.

Current season ticket-holders still wishing to renew their seats for next year have until April 14 to renew at the second discount rate with a standard adult season ticket in the Barclay Stand now costing £370 as opposed to the £344 it cost before Saturday's first deadline. After April 14, the same season ticket rises again to £401.