Charlton’s radical new pricing system seems set to alienate many fans. 

The stadium has been split into eight zones with a mind boggling five different price zones in the East and West stands. Prices in the East will range from £150-£450, with relegation a distinct possibility, there will be a temptation for fans to buy a ticket for A block and move to a dearer, empty seat. Policing the system will be close to impossible.

Over the years, Charlton have had systems where all seats were the same price and more recently, the East and West cost the same price, with the North seats costing less.

Another quite bizarre facet of the proposed prices was the Crossbars season ticket. Current season ticket holders in the front six rows of the Upper North have received a letter from the club inviting them to apply for the new Crossbars season ticket, which will cost £530, an additional £230 for access to the Crossbars lounge.

Patrons who rang the club to query if they would have to relocate if they did not want the Crossbars package were advised that they would have to move. After adverse reaction, it appears that the club has changed its stance and that current season ticket holders will not have to move.

The scheme is the brainchild of Ben Kensell who shelved another of his ideas. Kensell wanted to relocate the family area to blocks G and H of the East Stand. Again, current season ticket holders in these blocks would have been forced to relocate unless they were accompanied by a child.

The dearest seats will rise in price and the prices will be valid until 9 April. It is unclear what will happen to the prices after this date, though the assumption has to be that they will rise. Bearing in mind that there is a real possibility that the club could be playing in League One next season, the cut off date does not seem to be a good idea.

I sit in a central position in the East, qualify for the concessionary rate and I also get a discount as my seat is deemed to have a restricted view. The restricted view discount is something that never goes up! My grandson sits next to me and has not changed category.

Two years ago, the seats cost me £279 for Championship football. Next season, as long as I pay by 9 April, the seats will cost me £399 for what could be League One football, an increase of over 40%. If I do not buy until the summer, I am likely to have to pay more.

In short, the scheme seems poorly thought out, unnecessarily complicated to the point of being unworkable and is not popular with many fans.

The take up rate for the Crossbars package is likely to be negligible. If the next few league results go badly, it will be interesting to see the club’s post 9 April pricing policy.