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PNE report increase in season ticket sales
Comeback traill: Irelands PNE ace Sean St Ledger could face Italy this evening
North End supporters have rallied behind their club despite relegation to League One.
The club announced yesterday that season ticket sales have already matched last season’s tally.
Saturday was the deadline day for fans to purchase a ticket at the early-bird discount rate.
Around 6,000 fans took advantage of the discount rate – up by 500 from the same period last season when the club was preparing for Championship football.
North End officials expect to sell a few hundred more tickets at the slightly higher prices from now until the start of the season.
The club’s finance director Kevin Abbott said: “We had 6,000 season ticket holders last season and in the discount period last year we had sold 5,500 – so we’re 500 season ticket holders up from last year in the same period.
“We’re really pleased with the uptake.
“I think it’s been seen at other clubs – when there’s a relegation, you see a rallying of the fans.
“Obviously, we are disappointed to be in League One, but it’s great that the fans have shown their support and we are really grateful to them.”
Meanwhile, Sean St Ledger could be in line for a long-awaited return to action tonight for the Republic of Ireland.
The Irish have a friendly match against Italy in Liege and St Ledger is set to play his first game since injuring his knee while on international duty back in March.
The central defender was close to making the starting line-up for Ireland’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia on Saturday.
However, manager Giovanni Trapattoni decided not to risk the Preston defender for the pressure match, which Ireland won thanks to two goals from Robbie Keane.
But having released Keane, John O’Shea, Kevin Fahey, Shay Given and Kevin Kilbane from his squad for tonight’s friendly, there is likely to be room in the starting line-up for the PNE skipper.
St Ledger, who is likely to be sold by North End this summer in a bid to trim the wage bill ahead of next season, said: “I did more running last week, while also doing some more ball work.
“It’s been a long time out but the flipside of things is that I am obviously fresh and eager to get back into it.”
North End winger Keith Treacy may also feature tonight for the Irish having missed out on being in the 17 for Saturday’s trip to Macedonia.
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Weather for Preston
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: West
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
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