Sixteen thousand Albion season tickets will have been sold by the end of this week.

Club bosses have said the demand for seats at the 22,500 capacity, £ 95 million American Express Community Stadium has “exceeded” all expectations.

Yesterday Albion’s managing director Ken Brown said there are less than 2,500 general admission season tickets still available.

About 13,500 fans have already bought their general admission season tickets and 2,600 corporate tickets, including 140 executive boxes, have also been sold.

Mr Brown said: “Personally it’s exceeded what I expected but there were different views across the board about how sales would go.

“To think that we have sold this many tickets when fans don’t even what league the club will be in next year is not a bad sign.

“We’ve always known there is huge potential at this club and we’re beginning to realise that potential now.”