Dover chairman Jim Parmenter has blamed “disappointing attendances” for the decision to raise admission prices next season.

The general adult admission price will rise by £1 to £13, with the over-60 and under-18 prices also going up by £1 to £10 and £6 respectively. Under-11s will continue to gain free admission.

Mr Parmenter said: “We need to live within our means and due to lower than expected attendances last season, the board have had to take the difficult decision of increasing our prices slightly.

“We have done this in the best interests of the club and hope that supporters recognise that this is required to ensure their club continues to prosper.

“Any money the club makes is always ploughed back in to improving things both on and off the pitch. None of the board are paid or take money from the club and jobs around the club are undertaken by volunteers. Running a football club and associated infrastructure is an expensive business.”

Mr Parmenter said the club were hoping to soften the blow by freezing the cost of season tickets for the 2013-14 season, providing they are bought before June 30.

The full season ticket prices are – purchased before June 30: adult £210; over-60 £149; under-18 £70. Purchased after June 30: adult £265; over-60: £204; under-18: £120

Mr Parmenter added: “We hope that the frozen season ticket prices will go some way to assisting fans.”

Last season, Dover’s average home crowd in Blue Square Bet South was 776 – down from 818 the previous season.