So, Sam Allardyce is urging stayaway Bolton fans to attend home matches? (BEN 20.4.01)

Perhaps consideration should be given to a number of issues before his 'frustration' is stoked excessively.

Has it not struck him and the board, that the home game with the highest gate this season (Grimsby 20.2.01) was the only one which gave true value for money at £5 a ticket. I, and my immediate family would be much more inclined to attend the Reebok, even to see lacklustre matches, if this was the cost of watching my home team.

The average man in the street, along with his family, simply cannot afford to go to an admittedly impressive stadium, paying exhorbitant entrance fees to finance overpaid footballers who have a playboy lifestyle, that does not reflect their contribution to the local community.

There is also the matter of food and drink purchased within the ground, £1.80 for a pie...are they made with gold dust? Replica shirts at £40 a time. I would hazard a guess that the working Boltonian, who would generally be a Wanderers supporter (I include myself) has far more nouse than the sheep that blindly follow more well supported and financed local clubs (no names mentioned!), and an idea that he may be getting ripped off.

The simple answer is lower the prices, attract more supporters and you get a better atmosphere and enhanced performance from a team, that, at present, could well do with it.

Mr W.J. Nelson

Astley Bridge