WELLING United owner Barrie Hobbins believes the current financial climate and Charlton’s slide have both had an impact on ticket sales ahead of next Wednesday’s annual pre-season friendly between the two clubs.

More than 400 seat tickets remain on general sale for the Park View Road clash, which acts as a traditional curtain raiser for both the Addicks and Wings.

Tickets can be purchased in person from the ground and will also be available on the night but Mr Hobbins conceded the stadium is unlikely to be packed to its full 4,000 capacity.

He said: “We haven’t sold as many as in previous years and have still got 400 seats left.

“A lot of those will go before Wednesday night in the days before the game but it is still down on other years.

“I think the credit crunch, coupled with Charlton’s situation where they haven’t done particularly well, means it rubs off onto this particular game so that some people who have previously attended in the past won’t do so this time.

“You can still buy tickets on the night, although obviously the availability of seats might be limited by then.”

The money raised from the game is always a major boost to Welling’s coffers and Mr Hobbins praised the Addicks for their continued support in agreeing to carry on playing the fixture.

He explained: “It is valuable to us. Charlton have been very good and always send a strong side down.

“It is nice for the people of the borough to get the chance to see a top notch side, not only from when they were in the Premiership but also now when they are playing in the lower levels of the Football League.

“It is a good match for Welling and we are grateful to Charlton for agreeing to come down because they have a big fan base in this borough.”

Mr Hobbins also revealed his number one priority is to find new shirt sponsors after the Wings’ deal with bookmakers Coomes came to an end, leaving a financial shortfall which has been added to by the recent demise of Setanta.

He said: “The money raised from the Charlton fixture doesn’t have any impact on Andy Ford’s budget because it is already set and this game is a side issue.

“What will have an impact possibly is the sponsorship situation because Coomes have now moved on and we are trying to replace them.

“Losing part of the sponsorship through Setanta means it is a double whammy we have been hit with.

“We still don’t know exactly what impact the Setanta collapse will have yet.”

He added: “We are working hard to put that right and although we don’t know what the league will do, in terms of the shirt sponsorship we hope to have something in place by the start of the season.

“We’ve had irons in two or three fires and are close, but nothing has been finalised yet.”

For ticket information on the Wings v Addicks game, call Welling United FC on 020 8301 1196.