A financial expert has hit out at the West Ham board for raising ticket prices and getting rid of concessions.

Since the start of the season, West Ham fans have repeatedly shown their displeasure with the decision to get rid of concessions for season tickets, as well as the top category matches, and the overall increase in prices.

While the club have somewhat reverted the decision to remove concessions for the best matches, although not completely, there’s been no movement on season ticket concessions nor the increased ticket prices.

In fairness, the price increases are in line with most other Premier League clubs, and it’s the concessions which really have fans riled up, shown by the black balloon protests which have “save our concessions” plastered on them.

It’s not just fans that are infuriated though, as financial expert Kieran Maguire has stated how unfair he thinks the changes are, but he suggests that things will only get worse. “West Ham are a quarter of a billion pounds a year business so to nickel and dime people who have been supporting the club is indefensible from a moral and ethical point of view,” he told the Price of Football podcast.

“The direction of travel is one way. Clubs are concerned about being able to increase money coming in from TV deals, Sky are effectively signed up for the rest of the decade and it’s flatlining. West Ham have done well at improving their revenues but that has a natural ceiling.”

“If you can sell out 62,000 tickets at current prices, you nudge concessions and target fans who moan but pay up so they can do it again. This is not just West Ham. I’m not saying that the Premier League has become too popular for its own good but because it has become so popular it has allowed clubs to focus purely on being a money-making industry.”

The Premier League as a whole is sadly losing sight of the bigger picture. It’s so vital that clubs remain as part of the community and help fans of all ages to be able to go witness their team. A lack of concessions will undoubtedly lead to less elderly fans attending games, but it will also lead to less youngsters going as their parents won’t be able to afford to take them. In the short term, it may be beneficial to get that bit of extra cash from tourist fans but in the long term it will lead to a decrease in profits as younger fans will go support someone else rather than their local.

Although the board have really put their money where their mouth is in recent years when it comes to big signings, there’s no amount of money, no signing, no amount of success that is worth losing the identity of West Ham United for. The future of the club relies on the younger generation, so let’s not cast them out, nor those who have been supporting the claret and blue the longest, in favour of tourists and extra cash.

Maguire hints at a bleak future where the only thing that matters to clubs is money with their being little to no regard for fans. Supporters can only do so much to help avoid this fate where the sport as we know it is ruined, it’s really down to those at the top to make the right decision.