Wolves are to step up up preparations for the Premier League by offering an incentive to pay fans to help them fill Molineux next season.

The club will send £40 to any season ticket holder who recommends a supporter, to help them reach a ceiling figure of 21,000 season tickets.

With three weeks to go before the big kick-off against West Ham on August 15, Wolves have sold 19,677 seats for their return to the Premier League.

They have previously introduced the ‘Recommend a Friend’ offer in 2005-06, with the same cash incentive.

Starting tomorrow, season ticket holders can recommend as many people as they want.

Wolves’ chief executive Jez Moxey said: “Season ticket holders are the lifeblood of the club and, given the difficult economic climate the fans face, we’re very pleased with the numbers who’ve already renewed or purchased a season ticket for the first time.

“But, just as we did in 2005, the ‘Recommend a Friend’ initiative is good way for us to not only reward our most loyal fans with our cashback offer, but also help get as many fans as possible into Molineux for the start of the new campaign.

“Everyone knows we face a major challenge in the Premier League and to ensure the team receives the best possible support for home games, we need as many season ticket holders as possible.

“Having Molineux full of noisy fans can be a real advantage for our players and season ticket holders play a major part in that.”

Wolves, who averaged 24,153 in their Championship-winning season, recorded their highest average gates for 34 years the last time they were in the Premier League in 2003-04 – 28,864 – and despite the recession, hopes are high that the club can challenge that figure.

Around 3,000 seats will be allocated for each visiting team, with a similar number set aside for a walk-up basis.

New applicants need to provide the full name and supporter number of the existing season ticket holder who has recommended them.

A cheque for the relevant amount will then be posted to their address.