A PLANNED live Q&A with Liverpool FC chief executive Ian Ayre scheduled for 6pm this evening has been cancelled with just four-and-a-half hours to spare after Saturday’s walk-out protest against increased ticket prices was supported by an estimated 15,000 fans at Anfield.

The club announced a plan on Friday to have Ayre answering questions from fans live in an hour-long show to be screened on LFCTV Go and YouTube.

Ayre spoke to the media on Friday following a pre-Sunderland press conference at Melwood when reporters were advised that manager Jürgen Klopp would not be answering questions on the subject of ticket prices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raPo4FaSaDk

Since Saturday’s protest there has been a groundswell of support for fairer prices for supporters in the mainstream media, including on Match of the Day. And last night reports began to filter through of emergency discussions behind the scenes at Liverpool following the unprecedented reaction from supporters. It’s due to these talks that the club has called time on Ayre’s Q&A. Had he taken to the internet to face the music, these are the questions we had intended to fire his way.

Do you think it is acceptable that Liverpool has the third highest, cheapest season ticket in the league, behind London clubs Chelsea and Spurs? Liverpool spend £14m a year on agents fees, the highest in the Premier League, but see very little for it. Isn’t this a simple thing the club could reduce to put towards cheaper tickets? You say Liverpool need ticket revenue to compete, but Spurs are set to finish above us for the sixth time in the past seven seasons, despite making over £130m less a year according to the latest Deloitte Football Money League Report. Will this ticket increase really help? Do you see the benefit in having a supporter base who feel valued as part of the club, rather than disenfranchised and taken for granted? Why is each revenue stream treated separately as something that needs to be increased, instead of looking at overall turnover of the club? When West Ham United issue a statement saying they are using TV money to reduce ticket prices, why are you saying that it is impossible for Liverpool? Does the club accept that there is a correlation between atmosphere in the stadium and results on the pitch? Is there also a link between the decline in atmosphere and the alienation of those who feel priced out by current levels? You have pointed out the debate around the new pricing structure is wrong to focus on £77 tickets, as in the grand scheme their number is small. Why then has the club chosen to focus on £9 tickets, which are an equally insignificant number? There has been plenty to suggest in both the actions of the club and the Premier League that it is accepted that ticket prices are too high — why can’t Liverpool be the club to make a true stand, to set the mark? It would create a huge feel-good factor among fans — something the club should value.

LFC thanks fans for submitting questions for tonight's Q&A however due to ongoing ticketing discussions, this will no longer take place. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 8, 2016

More on the ticket price debate:

– READ: A message for the supporters who opposed the protest

– LISTEN: Free podcast: Ticket price special

– READ: The new ticket price structure: A missed opportunity