All of us, unless maybe you're a doctor, policeman or teacher, are feeling the pressure of the economic downturn.

We're all tightening our belts and when we do open our wallets, we want to be certain that we're getting value for money.

So I wonder on Tuesday night how many dejected Town fans got home, still raging from the 3-0 home defeat to strugglers Southampton, looked at their newly-arrived season ticket pack for next season and thought 'you know what?

I can think of better ways of spending £500' and threw it in the bin.

Non-believers have scoffed when I tell them how much I splash out watching Town but I always insist that, even in the bad times, it is still worth every penny.

But this season I have found it hard to justify.

We've played 18 games at home in the league this season so far and I feel I have only had real value for money twice, the 2-0 win over Reading in September and December's 3-1 victory over Bristol City – and that was only down to a ten-minute purple patch.

I must confess that I missed my first Championship game of the season at Portman Road on Tuesday, due to working late, but the overriding wave of opinion is, as David Wright put it, the Saints simply wanted it more than us.

I'm sorry? I know there is the age-old excuse that we all have bad days in the office but to cite a lack of drive and desire, especially in the privileged position of a professional sportsman, is unforgivable.

Whatever the marketing department's rhetoric is about price freezes, interest-free credit and 50 per cent Premiership cashback, the best season ticket salesmen the club have are the players.

At the moment Royal Bank of Scotland customers are getting better value out of Sir Fred Goodwin's £650,000 a year pension, than we are out of some of our players that earn even more than that.

As angry as it makes me feel though, buying a season ticket is not like buying a new television.

If I got bad service from one shop, I would take my trade elsewhere.

That is never an option for any true football supporter.

And the clubs know this.

The die-hard fans will renew their season tickets regardless of the problems on the pitch but there are other fans who will sit on the fence for the next month before deciding whether to part with their money.

The season-ticket deadline of April 4 could be just as important in determining Jim Magilton's future, as the league table on May 3.