TODAY is the deadline for Leeds United's season ticket holders to renew their seats for the next campaign.

It is anticipated that around 9,000 of the club's 22,000 season ticket holders will have renewed before close of business today, but tickets don't go on general sale until June 14. The club hope to be left with around 17,000 season ticket holders after the drop from Premiership to Coca-Cola Division One football.

The board have budgeted for a 5,000 reduction in season ticket holders and they are satisfied with the demand so far, bearing in mind that renewals started a week later than last year.

Sales had slackened off, but Kevin Blackwell's appointment as manager on May 26 increased demand towards the end of last week.

Some fans are also waiting to see which players follow Alan Smith and Paul Robinson out of the door and which recruits Blackwell is able to bring in.

League crowds at Elland Road averaged 36,666 last season.

The average for the club's last season outside the top flight was 28,198 in 1989-90. That was a promotion season, of course, with interest sky-high as United battled their way out of the old second division.

Updated: 11:01 Tuesday, June 01, 2004