Cornish Pirates chief executive Rod Coward has admitted moving back to the Mennaye Field in Penzance has led to a drop in season ticket sales.

The Pirates, who played home games at the Camborne Rec last term, last played a full season in Penzance in 2004/05.

Coward told BBC Spotlight: "There is a slight drop off [in finances], but I wouldn't want to quantify it.

"We've not sold quite as many [season tickets] as we had at this time last year, but there's still time to go."

Coward added: "There is a saving there in the fact that money that would otherwise have been spent at Camborne is now being spent on our own ground.

"But I think it's swings and roundabouts. What we've lost perhaps with people living in the far east of the county, we hope to gain by people living in the far west."

The Pirates were forced to return to the Mennaye in July after they were unable to agree with Camborne RFC about the use of a new events marquee at the Rec.

Our expectations are that we remain competitive, that our performances are such that people will come along and watch the games and that we can achieve a good place in the Championship Rod Coward

"I think it's terrific to come back," said Coward. "We've been away for four years, four good years but the time came to move back and I think we've done as much as we could possibly do within the short period that was available to us.

"So we're positive, we're upbeat and we see it as good news."

With the new Championship season just around the corner, Coward said the team are well placed to improve on last season.

He said: "Our expectations are that we remain competitive, that our performances are such that people will come along and watch the games and that we can achieve a good place in the Championship.

"It would also be lovely to think that we could retain the British & Irish Cup with a victory here at the Mennaye in May next year."

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