Atmosphere before income - Quinn

Quinn believes offering the fans a good deal will help the team's progress

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has revealed the decision to cut season ticket prices is a move to create an atmosphere at the Stadium of Light.

Tickets bought before 3 April will cost �350-�465, down from �415-�525 this term, and Quinn hopes the savings will encourage fans to support the club.

"We're putting commitment to the team, match attendance and atmosphere above income," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"The atmosphere become electric and the players sense the passion and loyalty."

Quinn, a former player at Sunderland, has confessed his own experiences have helped shape the club's decision.

"Some people just can't afford it, I understand that," he said.

"There's a lot of reasons for not doing this but we've decided to put football and team above everything else.

"The most important thing is that full houses generates the best out of players.

"I've played the game and I know what it was like when the stadium was full, and I know what it was like when there were 6,000 or 7,000 people missing, there was something missing in our performances."

Wearside's economy has been hard hit in recent months, with redundancies at the region's major employers such as Nissan, as well as businesses on a national scale.

The Wearsiders have also taken a decision to allow adult supporters who purchase a season ticket the option of buying an under-16s ticket for �19, a cost of �1 per match.