CALLING all York City fans... buy your 2002/3 season tickets at reduced rates with your award-winning Evening Press.

New Minstermen chairman John Batchelor has set a target of 1,500 season ticket sales for the 2002/3 campaign - almost double the number sold for last season.

The club have been left with little option to up next season's prices and attempt to increase the sale of season tickets as the ITV Digital fiasco looks to hit clubs up and down the Nationwide League hard.

But to help City on their way to achieving their target, the Evening Press has teamed up with the club to exclusively offer supporters the chance to snap up tickets at a reduced rate.

By collecting just four of the tokens, which will be published in the Evening Press from today, April 26, until May 2, and sending in the payment and application form, readers can qualify to purchase their 2002/3 season ticket at last season's prices.

Batchelor confirmed the Minstermen could be hit by losses of £200,000 by the collapse of the digital channel, leading to the club to investigate ways of increasing revenue.

"I think we can achieve this target," he said. "It is a good chance for supporters to watch next year's team at this season's prices.

"The whole ITV Digital has forced us into this as we stand to lose £200,000. We have had to look at different ways of raising revenue, such as through sponsorship, promotions and ticket prices.

"The 1,500 is not a limit, we will sell as many tickets as people want."

A full list of prices will be published shortly, but there are increases in price across the board for next season.

"We were the cheapest in the league last season, barring Darlington, but they were subsidised by their chairman," added Batchelor.

"Some of the prices have gone up by 30 per cent. I know this sounds a lot but it only equates to £3."

For all the information on the exclusive deal on season tickets get a copy of tonight's Evening Press.

Updated: 08:52 Friday, April 26, 2002