Manchester United fans will have had their worst fears confirmed if unsubstantiated reports last night predicting a 54% hike in ticket prices by 2010 are true.
Some newspaper early editions also claimed that the club's owner Malcolm Glazer intends to raise revenues to £246m and would increase the cost of entry into Champions League games by up to 25%.
Police, meanwhile, say they are investigating threats against directors of Manchester United by a militant fans' group which is opposed to Glazer's takeover of the club.
The Manchester Education Committee has released a statement on the internet. "All senior figures within the club are considered 'fair game'," it said. "The Committee would like to stress that it will at no stage seek out soft targets, but that it can only speak for its own members."
Police said they were taking the threats seriously. "All reports will be investigated fully and Greater Manchester Police will do everything possible to ensure that the people making these threats are brought to justice," said chief superintendent Andy Holt.