Newcastle United fans will not continue paying increased season ticket prices if they can’t see any signs of involvement in the club from the ownership.

That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after it was announced that season ticket prices at the club will rise 5% from next season.

The club has defended the ticket price increases, saying it is needed to invest in the club and in Eddie Howe’s squad to challenge for European places in the Premier League.

It comes as Newcastle could build a new stadium to increase revenue, which would increase the club’s capacity from 52,000 to 65,000.

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Newcastle warned over ticket price hike

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes rising costs could have an effect in the future on season ticket sales.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the owners need to show more ambition to drive Newcastle forward if the fans are to accept increased prices.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “The big issue will be the new stadium and what’s actually unveiled at the end and the vision and the scale of that vision, then the fans will realise that if they want to be part of that going forward, they’re going to have to keep their season tickets and they’re going have to go forward.

“We know it’s a sought-after commodity, the Newcastle season ticket. The fan base is incredibly loyal. I love the Geordies for that. They’re brilliant fans. And it is one of the special atmospheres of British football. And I know they wouldn’t want to give up their season tickets.

“But there comes a point when the costs are getting a lot for families right now. We’re seeing the cost of the petrol pumps going up this week. The food and supermarkets will be going up again with all the world events.

“So there comes a point when people have got to say, we know sport is normally the last thing to go, but still, they’ll come a point. But I think it’s easier to do it and to understand where your household income is going to your football club if you see the owners also doing something.

“So that’s the only thing I would say is that it’s okay to keep on adding 5 per cent here and there to the fan base, but you’ve also got to show that you’re doing the right thing for the club yourself.”

Kieran Trippier contract latest at Newcastle

Sources have told Football Insider that Kieran Trippier could receive a new Newcastle deal as Tino Livramento is likely to leave the club in the summer.

Man City are the front-runners for Livramento, but Arsenal have now registered their interest in signing the 23-year-old.

Trippier is out of contract at the end of the season, and Howe could tie him down to a new deal to ensure the club do not lose two right-backs in the same window.

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