CHIEF Executive Neil Doncaster told reporters today the Club is delighted with the first season ticket renewal figure for 2009-10, describing it as a testament to the tremendous loyalty and committment of Norwich City supporters.

So far 16,939 City fans have already renewed for next season, the second-highest first deadline total in the Club's history, and Doncaster told canaries.co.uk that this was terrific news under testing circumstances.

"I'm absolutely delighted to have achieved nearly 17,000 season ticket renewals," he said. "At this first stage in the season ticket renewal process it is an incredible result and a terrific testament to the unbelievable loyalty that our supporters have shown us over many years."

With many speculating that renewal numbers would have signifcantly dropped from last year's record figure of 18,460, the City chief was asked if he was surprised by today's news: "Yes I am surprised. I think in the context of where we are in the division, the difficult season that we have had, the extremely difficult economic conditions the country is suffering at the moment, I think to have achieved these results in that context makes them even more surprising and even more delightful.

"I think we expected the numbers to be well down frankly, considering where we were in the division and the really difficult conditions people are finding in the high street. I think we would have been naive to expect otherwise but to have achieved the second-highest level of renewals at this stage in the season ticket process really is an incredible result."

He continued: "We're extremely grateful to all of our supporters who have renewed and shown confidence and we've still got a second deadline to go which gives fans the opportunity to get discounts still on their season tickets if they renew up to the Watford home game. So there's still lots to play for and we'll be trying to do what we can to try and get those numbers as high as possible and to get as close as we can to the sort of season ticket levels we've had this year."

The renewal process was launched at the end of January, the week of Bryan Gunn's appointment as first team manager, and Doncaster was asked if this had had any effect on people's decision to commit to Carrow Road for next season. He replied: "I'm certain that he's been well received, he clearly has the weight of support right behind him and we saw that last night at QPR. The incredible response our supporters gave away from home, they're right behind Bryan, we're right behind Bryan and clearly that may have had an impact on these numbers. But whatever the reality of why they've happened we are extremely grateful for the continuing loyalty of our supporters, who are a real credit to the county of Norfolk."