BOLTON Wanderers are expecting record season ticket sales as they prepare for a second successive Premiership campaign. Full details at www.thisisbolton.co.uk/wanderers/seasontickets.html

Prices are going up for the first time in five years, but officials at the Reebok claim to be offering supporters the best value in the top flight.

They are confident that, with Sam Allardyce and his players showing they can hold their own in the top flight, sales will soar beyond the 18,000 mark they reached last summer.

Chairman Phil Gartside accepts it will be tough but says the aim now is to establish a long-term future in the Premiership and says the fans have a big part to play.

"Our aim was Premiership survival," the Wanderers' chief said, "and that is what we have achieved. Everyone involved with the club should be delighted.

"Our financial situation was well publicised and many said we wouldn't make it. I'm pleased to have proved them wrong.

"Next season wil be tough, however, and we still face many challenges. We hope our supporters take advantage of this great season ticket deal, as their support helps us build a more solid commercial and financial foundation for the club and will help support activities on the pitch and hopefully keep us in the Premiership for many more seasons to come."

Early-purchase discounts of 10 per cent are again on offer with prices ranging from £278 for an adult in the lower tier of the Bolton Evening News (North) Stand - the equivalent of £14.64 per game - to £379 (£19.95 per game) in the upper tier of the East and West Stands. Cheapest adult tickets last season were £239.

Junior season tickets in the family stands (BEN and the West lower) go up from £85 last year to £98, which translates to £5.54 per game.

A combined family ticket for two adults and two children rises from £535 last year to £629 (£33.11 per game).

Prices rise after June 1 but Lifeline members receive an additional five per cent discount before and after the deadline.

With the Reebok having been close to its 28,000 capacity as the fight to beat the drop intensified, club officials are advising supporters that the only way to guarantee a seat for the 2002-2003 campaign is to purchase a season ticket and "Share the Passion" - the theme of the sales drive.

Wanderers claim they beat the rest on value by offering a range of additional benefits under the Teamcard system launched last year.

The loyalty card scheme has seen supporters collect four million points shopping at more than 40 Teamcard partner outlets - the equivalent of £40,000 in cash to be redeemed in goods or services at the club superstore.

Wanderers are keen to stress other "value added" benefits of the season ticket, including: no increase in full-season car park permits, priority access to cup and away matches, a copy of the Wanderers' Yearbook, free family membership of Club De Vere and four copies of Extra Time - a quarterly club magazine which will be launched next season.

Commercial director, Gareth Moores, explained: "It is our aim to provide supporters with the best value deal in the Premiership, not just on price but by offering other benefits.

"We want as many people as possible to share in the passion of the Wanderers' experience and join Sam and the team at the Reebok next season. To make life easier we have introduced a payment plan scheme, where fans can spread the cost of a season ticket over a ten month period.

"We believe in rewarding loyalty and with the additional bonus of Teamcard this offer goes some way to lowering the cost of football to our supporters."

Season tickets can be ordered at the Wanderers Ticket and Membership Office at the Reebok and at the Market Place in the town centre.

Sales to supporters purchasing their tickets in person begin on Monday, May 13 for East Stand tickets; Monday, May 20 for West Stand tickets; and Monday, May 27 for the BEN (North) Stand.