WANDERERS chairman Phil Gartside says Premier League clubs must follow Wanderers lead, if they are to avoid a gate slump.

The Whites are bucking the national trend of declining attendances by keeping ticket prices at affordable levels and Gartside believes they have developed a blueprint to beat the credit crunch.

Reebok gates are up this season in what is seen as a positive response to the club’s concerted effort to listen to fans over ticket pricing and recent offers – including a £49 season ticket for kids – that are reflecting the state of the economy.

“We’ve recognised it’s expensive to go to football,” the Wanderers chief said.

Now he says the latest round of statistics suggests other clubs must follow suit: “I’ve seen the crowd figures for clubs at the higher end of the league and they’re struggling to fill their grounds as well. We’re all going to have to take a look at how we go about pricing.”

A Setanta Sports News poll showed that almost nine out of 10 people in the North-west believe they are paying too much to attend Premier League games. One in four say the “credit crunch” sis keeping them away.

Business analyst Drew Barrand, of the Sports Industry Group, warned that falling attendances would continue for some time.

“The recession and credit crunch haven’t really hit yet, that’ll probably be a reaction that hits next year,” he said. “When that happens it will affect attendances even more.”