Postecoglou responds to Tottenham's controversial ticket plans for next season

Ange Postecoglou says overseas fans who have only just started supporting Tottenham have as much right to tickets as loyal locals who have been cheering on the club for decades.

Postecoglou's comments follow controversial plans to increase season ticket prices for next season by six per cent, and scrap concessions for the over-65s The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust has written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters asking for support in its opposition to the plans.

'The fact that a fan of 30-, 40- or 50-years loyal support will now never be able to buy a season ticket at a senior concession rate is disgraceful and unacceptable,' the letter said.

Those affected fear they will be replaced by 'plastics' - a derogatory term indicating supporters with fat wallets but minimal emotional attachment to a club - or 'tourists' - affluent overseas fans.

Tottenham manager Postecoglou made it clear he wanted loyal locals to carry on being accommodated - 'I want Spurs supporters in the stand, I don't just want anybody' - and the Australian also launched a passionate defence of the overseas supporter.

'I'll tell you why - I'm probably 'plastic' and 'touristy' because I was coming from the other side of the world really passionate about football and if I could get access to see a Premier League game that was the world to me,' he said.

'This football club has supporters all over the world and I think we should always be able to accommodate them.

'It doesn't make them any less passionate and it's really disrespectful to call fans who are willing to go to the expense of coming halfway round the world that. You don't know how passionate they are about their football club. Maybe they have only started supporting it in the last two