Chairman Geoffrey Richmond today hit back at critics of the club's arrangements to cater for supporters disrupted by work on the Kop.

Building work on the £2.5 million all-seater stand at the Kop end of Valley Parade is underway, but while the stand is being built there will be disruption to supporters who stand at that end of the ground.

The roof is being removed and the terrace will be open to the elements between now and the end of the season.

Richmond said the critics of the club's arrangements represented a minority view of the way the club has acted.

"Although we have had a number of critical letters, we have had many comments of a congratulatory nature.

"People accept that although the work is causing inconvenience over the short term the price for the long term progress of the club is worth paying.

"The club are offering a wide range of initiatives for those Kop supporters who are unhappy at having to stand in the open for the remaining matches of the season.

"We are offering upgrades for season ticket holders on the proportionate cost of transferring from the Kop to the Ciba stand on Midland Road or the Sunwin stand.

"We are also offering transfers to season ticket holders on a match by match basis up to 1pm on the day. So, if the weather forecast is bad and a season ticket holder wants to transfer from the Kop he or she is able to do so.

"If either of these two alternatives is not acceptable we are offering a full proportionate refund on the season ticket based on the fact that we have played ten home league matches and there are still 13 to go."

He said City prided themselves on looking after their supporters and caring for them more than any other club. "Our record would stand up to the closest examination," he said.

The current extra cost for an adult season ticket holder to transfer from the Kop to the two stands for the rest of the season is £48, for a child £30 and for an OAP or student £23.

Applications cannot be accepted over the telephone.

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