Readies Devils in ticket hike

CHEEKY Devils Man United found a good day to sneak out bad news — while fans were celebrating their amazing Champions League semi-final comeback.

They revealed a season ticket price rise the day after their team beat AC Milan 3-2 at Old Trafford with goals from Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

It also came out while fans and players across Britain were mourning the death of England’s 1966 World Cup winner Alan Ball.

The Red Devils announced season ticket prices will rise by up to 13.5 per cent.

Match tickets which cost between £23 and £39 this season for members will also rise to between £25 and £44. The hikes come in an incredibly lucrative season for United — who could end up winning the Premiership title, Champions League and FA Cup.

It also comes on the back of a huge cash injection from a new TV deal.

The Sun’s Cut the Cost of Footie campaign has seen top Premiership clubs — including Arsenal and Chelsea — drop or freeze next season’s prices. Spurs are the only other top team to announce a rise.

Charles Bogle, of United fans’ website Rednews, said the hike was a kick in the teeth for supporters still angry that US tycoon Malcolm Glazer borrowed heavily to buy the club.

He said: “This comes after they announced steep price rises a year ago. It seems to be made on the back of this season’s success to help feed the large debt the Glazers have bestowed on the club.

“There will come a point when United’s working class support, which built the club, will no longer be able to afford to go, week in, week out.”

The Man United Supporters Trust said: “These inflation-busting price hikes come at the very time officials at the club have been crowing about its rosy financial future, based on the huge new TV windfall and the increased sponsorship deal.

“It is far in excess of what even the Glazers’ own eye-watering business plan initially predicted.”

United tried to soften the blow by freezing junior season tickets in the Family Stand and cutting junior match tickets by almost 50 per cent to £10.