City have frozen last year’s early-bird season-ticket prices for next term – providing they are snapped up before 2013.

The club today announced details for another discount Christmas scheme that will run from Monday until December 31.

Adult season tickets will cost £199 – the same as the current ones that were snapped up early – with concessions £149 and under-16s paying £99. But City have stressed those figures will go up once the initial deadline has passed.

Director of operations David Baldwin said: “There is a general feeling that whatever happens, there’s been a lot better entertainment this year. It’s good value for money at the current price of a season ticket.

“If we’re in the situation that we’re in League One next year, then that’s fantastic value.

“If we don’t go up, we are still making forward steps in the right direction to kick on. So either way we want to be loyal to our fans.”

Supporters can also spread the cost by paying half now and the balance before the end of February.

Baldwin added: “We appreciate it can be difficult over the Christmas period so we are offering that option to split it and pay in two instalments.

“If they choose to do so, people can put down half with the initial transaction. They then have until February 28 to pay the remainder. But if they wait until after that, in effect they’ve put a deposit down for the price whatever is it at when they settle the balance. So if ticket prices were to jump up by £100, they will have to pay that extra money.”

Tickets will go back on sale in March and again once the season is over. But City have warned fans to anticipate a “significant” rise on the costs of the first phase.

Baldwin said: “The Christmas deal will be a significant saving on what you will pay in the second phase and even more so in May. For the best possible value, it makes sense to buy them early.”

There are no plans for another flexi-card scheme at this stage.