Ticket sales surge as Tractor Boys feel Keane effect

IPSWICH TOWN are clearly reaping the rewards of the Roy Keane effect with the Tractor Boys confirming they have already sold more season tickets for 2009/10 than the final tally for last year, with sales approaching the 16,000 mark.

The hype surrounding Keane’s appointment as Ipswich boss has seen a surge of fans snap up season tickets for the campaign ahead, with more than 2,700 tickets sold since the Cork man’s arrival at Portman Road. Ipswich’s millionaire owner Marcus Evans will clearly be delighted with the interest the Keane era has created.

Sales of merchandise have rocketed – and executive box sales, flagging towards the end of former manager Jim Magilton’s time at the club, have increased too.

The Tractor Boys finished the 2008/09 season with a total of 15,356 season ticket holders but that number has already been overtaken and applications are still being received at the club’s ticket office. “Roy Keane coming in has certainly seen a boost in season ticket sales and we are now over the 15,500 mark,’’ Town’s Ticket and call centre manager John Ford said yesterday.

“We have had a 6% increase in Early Bird season ticket sales compared to last year and we have already sold 150 or so more tickets this year than we finished with last season.

“We’re still getting a steady flow of supporters purchasing tickets for next year as well and there certainly seems to be a buzz of excitement amongst the fans.’’

Keane is thought to have a £20 million war-chest to spend this summer and is keen to make Manchester United team-mates Danny Higginbotham and Republic of Ireland international Paul McShane and €600,000 rated Hamilton Academical defender Brian Easton his first signings in what promises to be a summer of big changes at Portman Road..

Meanwhile the Tractor Boys could be set to face League of Ireland Division One side Limerick in a money-spinning clash at Munster’s Thomond Park.

Nothing has yet been finalised but there is speculation the Tractor Boys will play Limerick at the 26,500 stadium as part of a four-team soccer tournament.

If it goes ahead the Tractors Boys’ – who have already agreed to play Premier League leaders Cork City at Turner’s Cross on Sunday July 19 – game against Limerick would take place in mid-to-late July.