Chris Heck replies to official Aston Villa announcement amid ticket controversy
Chris Heck has spoken out as Aston Villa announced a new initiative to celebrate their 150th anniversary.
Heck posted on his X account [30 December] to reinforce the plan from the Villans to celebrate their 150th anniversary by pricing select items of merchandise at £1.50 for the upcoming FA Cup tie against West Ham United on 10 January.
While a well-meaning initiative, it has not gone down well with many fans at Villa Park, who have felt scalped by Heck and their club for tickets this season – particularly in the Champions League.
Heck simply reposted the Villa announcement with: “£1.50”, provoking more than just a few of the faithful.
Earlier on Monday, former referee Mark Halsey labelled ticket prices for the clash against Brighton as a “disgrace”, with the majority of fans being charges as much as £72.50 for the fixture.
Heck tone-deaf with Aston Villa fans after announcement
Whether Heck is being deliberately passive-aggressive with the Aston Villa supporters online or he has just failed to read the room, his reinforcement of the commemorative move from the club has not impressed many.
Villa tickets for the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, for instance, were priced as highly as £97 for regular seats as even Premier League season ticket holders suffered from their own loyalty.
In a short-term benefit for the supporters who can take advantage of the discounted items on offer at the West Ham cup tie in January, what they don’t need is for it to feel like they now owe their own club, to whom thousands have ploughed in a significant chunk of their annual salaries.
We see it across the pyramid – Jim Ratcliffe has been scathed at Manchester United by fans for his cost-cutting measures; Daniel Levy has batted off criticism from Tottenham fans for a generation. West Ham themselves.
The list is endless, and then it goes down to the EFL and the clubs who have flirted with liquidation. Tamworth in the National League, who are charging non-league-supporting locals as much as £42 to watch their side in a once-in-a-lifetime tie against Spurs.
Aston Villa know their fans will be there regardless. Boards across the country know it. And the business-minded approaches alike often take full advantage.
In other Aston Villa news, the club swoop in for a potential deal from Brazil.
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