Dave Cormack raises Celtic Park fan gripe as he backs Premiership ticket shake-up

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack is backing plans for a five per cent minimum away ticket allocation to be introduced by the Scottish Premiership and revealed that all but 60 of his club’s 600 briefs at Parkhead are restricted view.

SPFL chiefs are in talks over the introduction of a mandatory level of away supporters from next season onwards with NO visiting fans currently attending Celtic and Rangers derby clashes. That has led to huge criticism and Cormack wants to see that changed, with Hearts slashing the allocation for Hoops fans at Tynecastle last season.

Cormack told Sky Sports: “My view and the view of Aberdeen and most people I think is that it’s healthy to have a healthy number of away fans at games. I remember back in the day being at Ibrox and Celtic Park with 3000 fans and you get a great atmosphere. We go down to Celtic Park now and get like 600 tickets and 90 per cent of them are restricted view!

“I get that there are season ticket holders but one of the myths in the game is that all these season ticket holders. I know certainly from Hibs and Aberdeen that 30 to 35 per cent of your season ticket holders don’t turn up at any one game. Ideally, clubs agree. They get together and agree but if that isn’t possible then the league has to come out and say ‘okay’.

“I’d be a fan of five per cent guaranteed for away fans or 10 per cent but if it’s going to be 10 per cent then the visiting club has to guarantee that balance of sales so they actually happen. If you look at Pittodrie. We have 1800 seats for the biggest crowds of visiting clubs - Hearts, Hibs, Celtic and Rangers - and they get some of the best seats in the house and the atmosphere is fantastic. And there’s banter… sometimes there’s more than banter!