Boxing champ Ricky Hatton has refused to renew his executive box at Eastlands.
The Sunday Mirror says Hatton has delivered a knock-out blow to his beloved Manchester City - by refusing to renew his executive box at Eastlands.
The 31-year-old former world champion, a lifelong City fan, floored the mega-bucks Blues after they raised the price of his box from £22,000 last season to a whopping £39,000 PLUS VAT for the coming campaign.
Hatton, along with his uncle - property developer Ged Nightingale - and eight other relatives and close pals, have had their own box at City's old Maine Road ground and latterly Eastlands for 10 years.
But The Hit Man is bitterly disappointed because he feels he has been dealt a low blow with this massive price hike imposed by the club he follows with a passion.
Nightingale said: "Ricky is very upset about this, especially when you think of everything he does off his own back to promote and raise the profile of the club.
"Is this really any way to repay the loyalty he has shown City? It is not a question of money because Ricky can afford to pay for the box, no problem. This is a matter of principle because the rest of us are proud guys who don't want Ricky to stump up the extra cash on our behalf.
"We all want to pay our own way but we feel that City are taking the mickey with this price hike. All the lads who contribute to the cost of the box have been loyal customers for 10 years, but now we feel we are being ripped-off. We have not been treated at all well.
"We expected to pay a bit more for the box this season - maybe another £5,000 or so - because they have added a few more creature comforts. But can they justify an extra £17,000 for heated seats, a plasma TV and a new carpet? I don't think so."
