ADAM Pearson says he remains hopeful Hull FC can sell 10,000 season passes but admits the club's ambitious target is now looking unlikely.
Hull have made a huge effort to push season passes this year, with the Challenge 10k initiative offering fans prizes as incentives to buy in large numbers.
With numerous other offers to season pass holders such as money off at various food and clothing outlets in the city, the Black and Whites were optimistic of reaching a figure they have not managed to hit in recent years.
Desperate to increase the club's fan base, Pearson has been working hard to entice former fans to come back to the KC after crowds have dropped over recent years.
However, the owner admits that despite a big marketing campaign, and heavy investment in the squad ahead of the forthcoming season, the best way for the club to swell numbers at games is to start producing a winning team on the pitch.
"The marketing team have done a good job with season passes and we have tried everything we can to get season pass sales up," Pearson told the Mail.
"The simple matter is we need winning rugby now to get people to come back through the gates.
"It is looking as though we will probably fall a bit short on the 10,000 mark unless we get a good run on the junior passes.
"We have a phenomenal offer on junior passes at just £60, and with the passes and a shirt offer too for £99 we are hoping we sell a lot of junior passes.
"With that offer running until February hopefully we can get somewhere near it, but we'll see."
Hull have presently sold 7,616 passes for 2013, a figure that pits them ahead of last year's total at the same stage.
Having come close to reaching the 10,000 figure last year, the club remain cautiously optimistic their target can still be reached, however, Pearson is preparing himself to come up short.
THE author of the 'Roamin the Range Together' books, Pete Allen, will be signing copies at the club shops on Saturday.
The two books chart the history of FC as seen through the eyes of Allen, a self-confessed obsessive with all things black and white.
Allen will be at the KC Stadium store between 10.30am and 12.30pm, then the Savile Street store between 1.30 and 3.30pm.
