Wolves have urged fans to avoid the credit crunch and snap up season tickets before tonight’s game against Crystal Palace to cash in on the club’s flying start to the season.

Mick McCarthy’s men have made Wolves’ best start to the season for 46 years, but season ticket sales are at a steady 15,291 – around 1,850 down on the same time last year.

Only 19,000 tickets have been sold for tonight’s clash, and with a gate of around 21-22,000 expected, which could mean table-toppng Wolves are watched by their lowest Molineux gate of the season.

The global credit crunch is an one reason why some supporters are reluctant to splash out on a season ticket.

The club say buying a seat over the whole campaign is cheaper overall and only season ticket holders can take advantage of the ‘Early Bird’ package, which offers discounted season tickets for next term.

Fans buying before the game get a three-match discount to account for the three home games they have missed – the last time they can buy.

Chief executive Jez Moxey said: “We’re getting very good support, we want that to continue and we’re sure it will if we continue this form, but we’re still a fair way behind the total on last year.

“It’s these tickets that we haven’t sold that we’re about to make that final push for, for season tickets. I appreciate the financial climate we’re in, but if people are going to watch the team consisently, it’s the most cost effective way of watching us play.

“The team needs the fans’ backing and we’d like a few more season ticket holders, before the economic benefits passes and they have to wait for half
season tickets.

“Although we will be running a scheme to buy half season tickets, buying a season ticket is still the cheapest way of supporting the team over the year.

“Given we’re getting to a point when it’s going to become less cost effective, it’s time to do it now. Given the team’s start to the season and the real feelgood factor around the club, I would hope these people join up.

“We’ve won three out of three home games so far and beat Blackburn in a pre-season friendly, so Molineux has been a happy hunting ground so far and we always know our fans can be a real help to the team when they’re fully behind us.

“If they remain behind us for the rest of the season, then great things could happen.

“We always run an Early Bird scheme in February and March and that’s the only option open to people who are currently season ticket holders to get cheaper ones for next season.

“If they buy before tonight’s game, they benefit from the three-match discount.”

Wolves sold 17,890 season tickets last season, meaning they are some 2,600 down on 2007-08.

Manager Mick McCarthy has banished notions of a negative ‘Molineux Factor’ and praised the fans for their support.

He said: “I don’t see that as an issue at all. We’ve started really well. At Charlton on Saturday, when the third goal went in, I thought the referee
had blown his whistle (for full-time) because people got up and left.

“I don’t see that at our place – people support us, and if we don’t play well, they don’t particularly enjoy it.

“But I’m in the dugout and I don’t particularly enjoy it when we get beat either.

“There’s no ‘Molineux Factor’ – it’s about what we do as players and it’s about playing well.

“Let’s see what happens when Palace play 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 and they close us down, make it difficult and it’s 0-0 after 60 minutes and we haven’t scored
four goals.

“That’s the test for all of us: what do I do? How do the fans and players react? We’re all in this together – there’s no individual going to win this league.

“It’s a collective thing – from the fans, me, the players, the staff, Steve and Jez.”