DROP IN ATTENDANCE

AS the first phase of the Welsh Premier programme hits the half-way point, an analysis of match attendances so far does not make the best of reads.
Overall the average attendance for all games shows a drop of 11.96% on the final averages for 2010-11.
Whilst Bala Town have seen a massive 34% rise in attendance, probably due to their excellent start, all other clubs bar Newtown have seen a fall varying from a 0.4 drop for Prestatyn Town to a near 35% drop for reigning champions Bangor City.
Quite shockingly, second-placed Llanelli are the worst supported club in the league just barely topping 200 per match on average.
"The pity is the woeful support this well run club with excellent facilities get from the local populace, there being only 200 watching their latest victory," says league secretary John Deakin.
"I accept that Llanelli is a rugby area, but it’s incomprehensible that the Scarlets who are ninth out of twelve in their League get average crowds of around 6000.
"I don’t want the locals to stop supporting their local rugby team, but the lack of backing they give to the football club is in my opinion an absolute disgrace."
Popular Friday matches have even seen a dip at most clubs, but increases of 20% at The New Saints and 18% at Aberystwyth Town - boosted by last week's student promotion - prevent the average loss of 14% from being even worse.
Saturday, ever the worst day for support with so many local leagues operating, shows marginally less of a fall than Fridays with Bala, Bangor and Aberystwyth seeing massive falls and only Prestatyn getting better support.
Six clubs have chosen to use Sundays as match-days this season so far but, even here, there is a significant drop on last season.
Bala’s 68% upsurge is clearly offset by downturns at Neath and Port Talbot.
The Welsh Premier League officers will be looking at ways to improve the situation before season’s end to try and ensure that the generally upward trend over the past few seasons is maintained.
Photo: A students' promotion boosted last Friday's gate at Park Avenue to 622, the highest in the league this season [Chris Howells].