Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor believes an increase in season ticket sales shows Staggies supporters are buying into the plans set out by co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson.
Despite County being relegated to the Championship, MacGregor has confirmed season ticket sales are up 15% compared to the same stage last season.
Kettlewell and Ferguson have been quick to set out their preparation for life in the second-tier by convincing several players to remain, while the Dingwall men have also brought in Iain Vigurs, Josh Mullin, Jamie Lindsay and Declan McManus.
Having offered supporters a reduction in cost for season tickets in Victoria Park’s Jail End last term, which have remained the same, County have now also brought down prices for the East and West stands for the new campaign.
MacGregor believes the optimsism generated by Kettlewell and Ferguson, rather than the pricing strategy, has been the main factor behind the rise however.
MacGregor said: “We are really encouraged by the uptake – after 10 days or so we have increased our season ticket sales by about 15% from this stage last season.
“Why is that – is it because we have reduced the price a little bit?
“I don’t really think so. My guess would be that people have appreciated the new management team, they understand they are Ross County people.
“Now we are beginning to sign players and that has encouraged people.
“I think they probably anticipate we will get back to winning ways. In the entertainment business, to get that reflected in season tickets this early is really encouraging for us.
“I don’t know if people have bought tickets for loyalty because we’ve gone down, and they have felt it’s right for them to come and support the club in its hour of need, if you want to put it that way.
“I’m not sure, but it’s extremely encouraging.”
Following a disappointing campaign last year, MacGregor is pleased Staggies supporters are sticking by their club, and he added: “I think we are giving the right message. I suppose last year we tried to go better and spend some more money and it didn’t work, we lost the Ross County way of doing things in the process.
“We are trying to get back to basics with people who, the club is in their blood.
“I couldn’t really speculate on why it is – but it’s beyond where we thought we might be and it’s really encouraging.
“We put up our season ticket sales by 20% last year, so to get another 15% on top of that shows that it really is success on the field that matters to people.”
