Sheffield United supporters offer their suggestions about season ticket money

Officials at Bramall Lane estimate more than 20,000 holders stand to lose an average of around £80 each because of the ban imposed on spectators due to the coronavirus crisis, and have suspended sales for the 2020/21 campaign.

Four of United’s remaining 10 league matches this term are set to take place on home soil, with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton scheduled to visit South Yorkshire.

A working party has been formed to try and decide the fairest way of refunding or compensating those in possession of season tickets, although some pass holders have taken to social media to suggest solutions of their own.

They range from offsetting money owed against the price of future tickets purchased to funnelling it towards a designated charity or local community project.

One fan, who favours the latter, told The Star: “We’ve had our money’s worth from the team already this season so, for me, just let them keep it to help cover any losses or, better still, put it towards a good cause.”

Another insisted: “I’m happy for them just to knock it off the price of the next season ticket I buy.

“That sounds fair enough to me. I’ll be buying one anyway so, whatever I might be owed, just stick it towards that.”

With millions of workers either being furloughed or made redundant during the pandemic, however, United’s hierarchy are aware that some of their season ticket holders might not be able to renew their passes.

One long-standing supporter, who sits in the Tony Currie Stand, said: “I’ll be okay financially so I’ll be happy just to take whatever I’m owed off what the next one costs. But other people might not be in that situation - they might actually need the refund.

“I can appreciate the difficulty of the situation. It’s a lot more complex than it first looks. So the best thing might be just to give the money back and then, if people want to, they can donate it to a charity or put it towards another ticket.

“Football fans are fair-minded people and want to help. If they don’t need the money, they’ll make sure it gets to someone who does.”

United were seventh when the game entered lockdown; only five points outside the Champions League places having played a game less than Chelsea in fourth.

They were also preparing to face Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with a capacity crowd set to descend upon Bramall Lane for the match. That is now set to be staged over the weekend beginning June 27. The semi-finals of the competition are scheduled for July 11 and 12, with the final pencilled in for August 1.

Thousands of fans had also bought tickets for some of United’s remaining away matches.

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