HOW refreshing it was to see West Ham slash season ticket prices this week for when they move into their new home at the former Olympic Stadium late next year.

Ticket prices – particularly at the highest level – continue to be a big bone of contention for supporters up and down the country.

It is that much of an issue, I’m surprised the likes of David Cameron and Ed Miliband are not using it to win election votes.

If Ed was to follow his new catchphrase of ‘If I were Prime Minister...” with “I would force clubs to reduce ticket prices” then he may not even need the Scottish Nationalists to prop him up at the door of Number 10.

For too long, clubs have been taking their fans – or should that now be customers – for granted.

And while those at the very top can still get away with it and fill their grounds week-in, week-out, there are others who have been forced into a rethink – like West Ham.

With so much money being pumped in by TV companies, it has taken far too long for the fans to see any benefit in my opinion.

I know some Premier League clubs have got together and made reciprocal arrangements where they reduce prices for away fans for games between them.

Others use money supplied by the Premier League to discount away tickets.

But with more than £5billion coming into the coffers from the latest TV deal, shouldn’t more be done?

It’s a no-brainer for me. These clubs are making mega-bucks at the top level and yet clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea still charge £60 for a standard ticket.

The first thing I would do is cap away ticket prices at all levels – say £35 at the top and maybe £20 in the Championship.

Some clubs would take a hit but others would benefit with more through the turnstiles.

Sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate. Just look at Bury throwing open the doors on Tuesday and getting their biggest crowd for 18 years in excess of 8,000.

They may have got in for free but I’m sure those fans will have spent money on programmes and food inside to offset that loss – and they may even come back next time and pay.

We have to make football more affordable – if only to aid the next generation of fans growing up.

When I was a kid, you could queue up at most grounds and pay to get in with your mates.

These days, you need a credit card or generous parents if you want to start following your club.

Foresight is needed from clubs because these youngsters may turn to non-league or other sports if they cannot afford high-level football and then how many empty seats would there be in 10 years time?

Views from the sports desk

ROBERT KELLY: THE Jack Grealish nationality debate looks set to run and run.

The Aston Villa midfielder appears to be edging towards playing for Ireland – his grandparents' place of birth – despite the fact he was born in Birmingham and has played for England at junior level.

Being from Northern Ireland, I have seen a number of top-class players leave my homeland and express a desire to play for the Republic of Ireland. Darron Gibson and James McLean are two prime examples.

One thing is for sure – as FA chairman Greg Dyke tries to get more youngsters blooded in Premier League clubs in a bid to improve the national side's chances, the last thing he will want is to open the doors for English players to opt for other nations.

JOSHUA ROGERS: AFTER 20 months without a trophy and countless people writing them off, Barcelona are slowly showing signs of getting back to their imperious best.

The Catalonian outfit dismantled big-spenders PSG with consummate ease in their Champions League quarter-finals.

And even though Lionel Messi failed to score over the two legs, Luis Suarez and Neymar stood up to the plate.

Barca sides of years gone by have always had a lethal three-pronged attack, and I would argue their current one is the pick of the lot.

Before the season started, many felt the Spanish giants' were past their best – tiki-taka was dead.

It seemed the hunger and desire that had led them to trophy after trophy had gone.

But they are sitting pretty at the top of La Liga and riding high in Europe – I wonder how many doubters are having second thoughts.

NEIL BONNAR: Snooker being in the Olympic Games would be another step along the road to undermining what still remains the greatest sporting show on earth.

Ronnie O'Sullivan came out against the idea of the sport he excels in being included at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. And rightly so.

The Olympics has had enough sports squeezed into its prestigious programme that just have no place there, like tennis, golf and rugby.

Tennis has its grand slams, golf its majors, rugby its World Cup and snooker its World Championships.

Don't turn the Olympics into an advertising platform, leave it to the sports that make it special.