U’s CHAIRMAN Robbie Cowling has admitted the club will never be successful on their fan base alone.

The club has an average home league gate of just 4,069 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this season and are expecting a modest crowd against Walsall tomorrow.

Cowling said: “We’re trying everything we can to try to make the ground more full.

“But I’ve come to the conclusion now that I don’t think Colchester United will ever be successful purely on its fan base alone.

“I’ve said this before but when you look back on Colchester United’s average home crowds when they last got promoted, they averaged under 4,000.

“I think some people are of the opinion that Colchester had a full ground every week in the past but I can’t think of any times when that’s happened on a regular basis.”

The club has reduced ticket prices for tomorrow’s game against Walsall, one of their 11 grade C games this season.

Tickets in the Famiy Enclosure for children under the age of eight cost £1 tomorrow, while under-14 tickets are £3 in advance.

Cowling added: “If you look over at the Family Enclosure on a match day, it’s pretty well attended and so is the West Stand.

“It seems to be the other areas we need to address but the word is spreading.”

The club is trying to attract new fans by offering discounts on certain games and a voucher book scheme – a season ticket with discount vouchers for shops in the town which other Football League Clubs have shown an interest in taking up.