RUNCORN FC Halton have reduced adult admission prices at Prescot's Valerie Park for next season.

Gate fees were increased to £8 late in their Halton Stadium tenancy to help the club's cash-flow problems.

However, the charge will now revert to £7 after relegation to the UniBond League Premier Division - the season starting on Saturday, August 20, and not August 13 as previously reported, with fixtures out on Friday, July 8.

The concessionary price stays at £4 and includes OAPs, Under 16s and all in full-time education on production of an NUS card.

Season tickets are also now on sale from the club.

An innovation this year is a new U16s ticket while the Linnets have also introduced a new payment system.

Adult season tickets cost £125 with the concessionary price being £75. Both offer three games free compared with the cost of paying at each game.

The U16s ticket is available for £50, which equates to about nine free games, and includes a replica shirt.

Phased payments are now available for adult and concessionary season tickets but the U16s ticket can only be purchased by full payment.

A club spokesman said: 'In previous years, if supporters wanted to be a season-ticket holder, they had to purchase it before the start of the season.

'However, since many supporters have commented that it is a big outlay, the club is introducing an installment scheme where fans can pay over the first five months of the season.'

Payment will start on August 1 and then on the first of each month until December inclusive.

The spokesman added: 'Adult season-ticket payments will be five payments of £25 and concessionary season-ticket payments of £15.

'Payments will be made either by standing order or handing in four post-dated cheques with the first payment.'

To apply for a season ticket, write to Runcorn FC Halton (c/o secretary), Prescot Cables FC, Valerie Park,

Prescot. or see the club website at www.runcornfchalton.co.uk

With the friendly at Heswall being put back a week to Thursday, July 26 (7.30pm), Runcorn now kick-off their pre-season programme on Saturday, July 23 (ko 1pm) at another West Cheshire League side, Ellesmere Port.

Other dates, all away, include Rhyl (provisional, Saturday, July 30, 3pm); Cammell Laird (Tuesday, August 2, 7.30pm); Mond Rangers (Thursday, August 4, 7pm) and Chorley (Saturday, August 13, 3pm).