LIVERPOOL'S owners have performed a U-turn on proposed ticket increases after apologising to fans for getting their plans wrong.
Principal owner and John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner were understood to be shocked at the sight of an estimated 10,000 fans walking out of Saturday's Barclays Premier League match against Sunderland in the 77th minute in protest at increases next season which included a new £77 match ticket and the club's first £1,000 season ticket.
Press Association Sport understands they were also surprised by the level of abuse directed at them - fans chanted 'You greedy b******s, enough is enough' before walking out.
It is understood Henry and Werner were keen to stress they believe the connection between supporters is "unique and sacred" and that is the reason they have acted so swiftly to prevent further damage to their relationship with the fanbase.
Having promised an immediate review the American-based owners have listened to the concerns of fans and moved quickly to try to rectify the situation.
As a result they have announced a number of changes to their initial proposals in a structure which will also remain for the 2017/18 season.
Revenue generated from ticket prices will be frozen at 2015-16 levels; this means the highest match-day price for a general admission ticket will remain at £59 - the lowest will be £9 and these tickets will be offered for every match with an allocation of 10,000 across the season.
The highest season ticket price will be frozen at £869 and the lowest £685.
Liverpool's owners have also announced the removal of game categorisations, so regardless of the opposition, supporters will pay the same price for match day tickets.
"It has been a tumultuous week," said an open letter jointly signed by Henry and Werner.
"On behalf of everyone at Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool Football Club we would like to apologise for the distress caused by our ticket pricing plan for the 2016/17 season.
"We were strongly engaged in the process to develop the ticketing plan for 2016/2017.
"We met directly with representatives of LFC's Supporters' Committee and along with LFC management, wholeheartedly agreed with major concerns raised, notably: access for local and young supporters; engagement and access to Anfield for local children; access to Premier League matches for those in Liverpool most challenged by affordability.
"We believe the plan successfully addressed these concerns and are disappointed that these elements have been either lost or, worse, characterised as cynical attempts to mask profiteering in the plan as a whole.
"Rather, we prefer to look at them as the parts of the ticketing plan we got right.
"On the other hand, part of the ticketing plan we got wrong."
Liverpool supporters' groups have hailed the "remarkable and unprecedented" move.
"If I am really honest I am not sure we can put it into words - we did not expect this," Spirit of Shankly spokesman Jay McKenna told Press Association Sport.
"It is unprecedented that they have apologised, remarkable.
"It is the right approach from the club that they apologised for the mistake."
On the effect the walkout had in changing the owners' opinion he added: "Supporters have reminded themselves that they are important to this game and reminded the authorities just how important they are.
"Clearly the club has seen the level of opposition to what was planned."
In a statement Spirit of Shankly also added: "Today's announcement has to be seen as a positive step in repairing the relationship between owners and supporters.
"If they had recognised what was being said by supporters about the impact of the original price rises (perhaps by actually meeting with their own Ticketing Working Group) then much of the embarrassment and upset of the last four days would have been avoided.
"It is a sobering lesson in listening to your supporters properly."
Liverpool tickets facts
Liverpool's American owners Fenway Sports Group have performed a U-turn on ticket prices after a fans walkout protest sent shockwaves across the Atlantic.
Here Press Association Sport's Carl Markham looks at what the result is.
What was proposed
::Around 200 £77 tickets for category A games
::A new £1,029 season ticket
::64 per cent of season ticket prices frozen
::45 per cent of match day tickets prices decrease
::1.2 per cent increase on average season ticket price
::More than 1,500 £9 tickets (around 500 per category C game)
::Local fans given priority access to over 20,000 tickets
::More than 20,000 extra tickets with 50 per cent reduction for 17-21-year-olds
::1,000 tickets to Premier League matches across the season will be given away free of charge to Liverpool schoolchildren based on merit, as recommended by their teachers.
What will now be put in place
::Revenue generated from ticket prices will be frozen at 2015-16 levels
::Highest-priced season ticket frozen at £869.
::Lowest-priced season ticket reduced a further £25 from the 2015/16 level to £685, as well as all other tiers being frozen or reduced.
::Highest match-day price for a general admission ticket will remain at £59
::Lowest match day ticket of £9 will be offered for every match with an allocation of 10,000 across the season.
::Removal of game categorisation - regardless of the opposition fans will pay the same price for matchday tickets.
::Local fans given priority access to over 20,000 tickets
::More than 20,000 extra tickets with 50 per cent reduction for 17-21-year-olds
::1,000 tickets to Premier League matches across the season will be given away free of charge to Liverpool schoolchildren based on merit, as recommended by their teachers.
::Proposals in effect for both 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons, meaning for next two seasons Liverpool will not earn a single additional pound from increasing general admission ticket prices.
