From goodwill gestures to NHS donations: How Sunderland's League One rivals have dealt with season card refunds

The Black Cats have agreed to refund all supporters after the curtailment of the 2019-20 season, but were met with a backlash this week after it was announced that season card holders would not receive their pro-rata refunds until the end of August.

Speaking to the Echo, chief executive Jim Rodwell ‘accepted and apologised’ for the fact that supporters were unhappy about this delay, while confirming over 10,000 season cards had been sold for the 2020-21 season.

So, while Sunderland’s policy has proved controversial, what have the rest of League One done when it comes to season card refunds? We take a look:

BLACKPOOL

Blackpool have proposed a number of options for season card holders, which include:

- leaving the cost of their 2019/209 season ticket in the club

- donating the five tickets connected to the cancelled matches to NHS, emergency service and key workers as a ‘thank you’ gesture

- donating the five tickets to local schools and youth groups

- a pro-rata ticket credit towards a 2020/21 season ticket

- a pro-rata refund

BRISTOL ROVERS

The Gas have confirmed that supporters with a season ticket will receive a credit to the value of five 23rds of their season ticket - including the four matches lost through the curtailment of the season and what the u have described as an ‘additional goodwill gesture’ for the loss of the Bury match.

DONCASTER ROVERS

Similarly to Blackpool, Doncaster have provided options for supporters.

There are two main options that are being put to season card holders – donate the pro-rata value of their season card back to the club, who will in turn invest it in the academy set-up; or claim vouchers for the 2020/21 season.

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood will be offering pro-rata refunds for the four home games which supporters have missed. The refunds will not be processed automatically and can be requested by emailing the club.

IPSWICH TOWN

Ipswich are yet another club to lay out several options to their season card holders and individual match ticket buyers. These include:

- receiving a full refund back to the payment card that was used for making the purchase

- leaving the refund as credit of the same value to be added to their online account to be redeemed against future match tickets or a season ticket

- donating the money to the club, academy or Ipswich Town in the Community

LINCOLN CITY

The Imps have offered supporters the chance to convert their remaining 2019/20 season ticket balance to shares within Lincoln City Football Club Company Limited. This balance will include the remaining 5 home games along with the lost Bury fixture.

MK DONS

MK Dons season ticket holders are able to log-in to their online ticketing account to view a range of options relating to their refunds – which include obtaining a pro-rata refund or donating the money back into the club.

OXFORD UNITED

Oxford United have offered their supporters a refund – but with options to either donate the rebate or put the credit towards a 2020/21 season ticket.

PORTSMOUTH

Season ticket holders can donate the refund, receive a refund or use it as credit.

SHREWSBURY TOWN

Shrewsbury have claimed that the cost of season ticket refunds would cost them in the region of £150,000 and, while they are accepting refund requests, are adding any season ticket holder who donates their refund back into the club to a special ‘Wall of Fame’