STADIUM: IT COULD BE A SELL-OUT

27 May 2005

Officials are predicting bumper crowds for Swansea City in League One as season ticket sales continue to soar. With 6,400 tickets already sold - almost 3,000 more than the previous record - Ashley Donlan, boss of the company running ticket sales, is predicting average crowds of up to 17,000 next season.

The demand for tickets has been so overwhelming that the stadium at Morfa had to close yesterday so that staff could carry out an in-depth account of all the seats sold so far.

''I have been astounded by the number of tickets sold and I think that we are still on course for reaching 12,000,'' said the Bastion chief executive.'

'The Swans have incredible support and I think that the average crowd here next season will be around 16,000 to 17,000.

''I also think that there will be at least 10 sell-outs and if the club get off to a good start there could even be a few more.'

'The next stage of selling tickets is to allow supporters to visit the 20,000 all-seater stadium to choose their seats for the new season without booking an appointment through the ticket hotline.

However, over the Bank Holiday weekend, the stadium will be closed on Sunday and Monday, but will reopen on Tuesday.

''Hopefully we won't get too overcrowded by doing this and people won't all come down at once,'' Donlan added.'

'There is no sign of sales slowing down and we are on target to reaching that 12,000 figure.

''But we had to close yesterday, so that the staff could count all the seats sold and make sure that the stickers have not fallen off the seats.

''The staff have been working incredibly hard. They have been working 12-hour shifts.

''Meanwhile, Leon Britton yesterday became the first Swansea player to say he will be signing a new contract.

The 22-year-old midfielder is poised to sign a new one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months depending on appearances.

"Everything is sorted, it is just a case of me signing on the dotted line," Britton said."I had a long hard think about my future and with the manager (Kenny Jackett) looking to change his formation it was a big factor in me deciding to stay."