FURNESS-based Liverpool supporters believe more still needs to be done to make Premier League tickets affordable.

The Reds have been in the news this week after 10,000 fans protesting at proposed price increases for next season walked out of Saturday's match against Sunderland.

The walkout took place in the 77th minute, reflecting the plans to make the most expensive tickets at Liverpool games £77.

Liverpool owners The Fenway Sports Group announced a change of heart for their proposals on Wednesday, announcing the maximum ticket price would stay at £59, season ticket prices would be frozen and around 10,000 tickets would be put on sale at £9 across the season.

The new announcement, proclaimed with the wording 'message received' following the protests, has met with cautious optimism by Reds supporters' groups, who still hope to see more affordable football.

That is a thought echoed by Furness Liverpool supporters Neil Doherty – the former Barrow AFC winger – and Dan Myles – the Dalton United manager.

Myles watches the Premier League outfit in action on a regular basis, but prefers to watch European games as the cost structure is more affordable.

He said: “What the fans did when they walked out against Sunderland was right and it's good that the owners have backed down on that.

“But, in general, ticket prices are too high. The clubs get a lot of money from sponsorships and TV money, but they don't seem to put that back to the fans by reducing the prices.

“They could still fill the grounds whatever the prices, but it is too expensive for people. At some clubs, it can be close to £100 for a ticket, which is ridiculous when you look at people having to travel to the game, taking their kids, spending money on programmes and food – they can spend a couple of hundred pounds going to watch a game.”

He added: “I think around £30 to £35 would be reasonable. Some people can't afford to go to games and the clubs don't reduce prices at all.

“I know I go to European games because they are cheaper. With where we are and the petrol costs, we worked out that the ticket and travel costs for a European game were as cheap as just the ticket for a Premier League game.”

Doherty, who has supported Liverpool since he was a child, echoed Myles' views.

The Inspiring Barrow project coordinator said: “I don't think anybody could disagree that prices are too high at Premier League clubs now. They are pricing out the supporters who have been the core for years and years.

“If it costs you £77 for a ticket and you want to go as a family, you could possibly go on holiday abroad for that. The prices are too high.

“The walkout has worked. What the Liverpool supporters have done is collective action. They recognise that if one person complains or two people complain, then the club aren't really going to do anything. When people get together, they can bring about change, which is something I strongly believe in.

Should Premier League clubs lower ticket prices?
Yes. They are taking their fans for a ride and need to take a long hard look at themselves!
No - If fans want top names and trophies, they should accept high ticket prices are inevitable.

“They are not just businesses, football is like nothing else, they have been built in the community and for the community. They are a representation of where people come from, so when they make decisions, they shouldn't just be financial decisions.

“Of course, they have to run and pay the bills, but there are extra considerations they need to make and sometimes I don't think they do.”

Liverpool's climbdown this week saw an open letter published from principal owner John W Henry, Liverpool chairman Tom Werner and FSG president Mike Gordon.

It said: “The three of us have been particularly troubled by the perception that we don’t care about our supporters, that we are greedy, and that we are attempting to extract personal profits at the club’s expense.

“Quite the opposite is true. From our first days as owners we have understood that serving as custodians of this incredible institution is a distinct privilege and as such, we have been driven solely by the desire to return LFC to the pinnacle of football.”

Henry, Werner and Gordon admitted it was an error to freeze only 64 percent of season tickets while raising the most expensive match ticket from £59 to £77.

“It has been a tumultuous week,” said their letter. “On behalf of everyone at Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool Football Club we would like to apologise for the distress caused by our ticket pricing plan for the 2016/17 season.

“We prefer to look at the parts of the ticketing plan we got right. On the other hand, part of the ticketing plan we got wrong.”