GILLINGHAM have reduced the price of season tickets in what chairman Paul Scally has described as a "bold and risky move" to lure more fans to Priestfield for the 2003-04 campaign.

Special emphasis has been placed on the Gills fans of tomorrow with a cut in juvenile charges. Starting next season the cost of a juvenile season ticket in the Gordon Road Stand or proposed Brian Moore Stand will cost £75 or £100 in the Rainham End.

A student category is also being introduced for the first time but an idea to introduce unreserved seating in some areas has been dropped. Gills fans will welcome the reductions.

Priestfield season ticket prices were second only to Brighton in cost this season in the Nationwide League, Division 1.

Season ticket holders have also received the long awaited assurance from Mr Scally that they will receive priority allocation on away cup ties and have first option on their own seats for home ties.

Providing they purchase before the end of May, season ticket holders in the Medway Stand upper tier, blocks A and B, will pay £358 compared to £422 this term, which is a reduction of 15 per cent.

In the Rainham End, prices drop from £358 to £305 which represents a 14 per cent cut. In the Gordon Road Gold Section prices are reduced from £464 to £391 _ a 15 per cent reduction.

The incentives for early purchase have been increased. For example, a season ticket bought in May for the Gordon Road Gold Section will cost £391 compared to the total of 23 individual matches of £529. This represents a saving of 26 per cent or the equivalent of six free matches.

In the Medway Stand lower blocks C and G, the cost is £305 compared with a match-by-match total of £460 _ equal to five matches.

Existing season ticket holders have until June 30 to renew and retain their seats. Unsold seats go on general sale on July 1.

Many matchday prices have been cut for adults by a pound or two while senior citizens can sit anywhere for £15 - a saving of up to £5 per match. The new student rate has been fixed at £15.

In a statement issued on the club's official website, Mr Scally said: "As our supporters will be aware, our gates and income have been down on the last year, and indeed on the year before.

"Something drastic had to be done to reverse that trend. You may be surprised, and like me somewhat alarmed, to lean that our overall income from season tickets and gate income has fallen over the last three years in Division 1 by over £620,000 or, in percentage terms, by about 20 per cent.

"Measures had to be taken. We are pro-active and bold and are taking risks. We believe they are risks worth taking and it is now a matter for our supporters and the people of Kent and Medway to take up the initiative and support the club for a better tomorrow."