IT has been another season of disappointment at Middlesbrough, but manager Tony Mowbray's quest to guide the club back to the Premier League has received a boost after it was announced season card sales are up on last season.

Boro will embark on their fifth season out of the Premier League in August, but early bird season card sales have increased around five per cent on the equivalent stage last season, boosted by more than 1,000.

An overhaul of the squad has already begun and the club confirmed yesterday that Nicky Bailey is the latest player to move on to pastures new.

Bailey, whose contract at the Riverside was due to end this summer, wasn't offered a new deal and it is believed a number of clubs are tracking the midfielder, including promotion-chasing Leicester City.

He becomes the fourth member of the first-team squad to leave following Stephen McManus, Julio Arca and Kieron Dyer, but the club have not confirmed the same about Andre Bikey, despite reports yesterday.

Mowbray is open-minded about exercising the option of an extra year on Bikey's current deal, but it is understood a final decision on the central defender's future hasn't been made and he will only stay at the Riverside if it suits both parties.

Boro's season ended with a whimper at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday when a 2-0 defeat saw Mowbray's side finish the season in 16th position, five points above the bottom three.

It is a world away from the dizzy heights Boro found themselves around Christmas time, when they reached the Championship summit and unsurprisingly attendances at the Riverside plummeted just as much as the side's position in the table did.

Their spectacular downfall even caused some sections of supporters to start questioning Mowbray's ability to lead the Teessiders back to the top flight, but the renewal figures will offer some support to the Boro boss.

The latest ticket sales come after Boro designated a new area especially for families, the Generation Red Family Zone, and more than 1,000 will join the innovative East Stand area next season.

Many fans have also taken the chance to move seats after the reconfiguration of the Riverside to give supporters the South Stand back as a home area.

"We have listened to what our supporters have been telling us and as a result we are introducing some really exciting innovations to look forward to next season," said Chief Executive Neil Bausor.

Chairman Steve Gibson added: "The spirit of Teesside is in its people and we want to harness that spirit to inspire the team in the way we all know it can. Our Season Card holders make an emotional commitment to the club and are really important to us."

n Although the Early Bird deadline has now passed, there are still great prices on offer in the Generation Red Family Zone, including adult and U-11 for £430 and an Over-65 and U-11 for £280. What's more additional junior Season Cards are still at the Early Bird prices of £20 per additional U-11 and £50 per additional U-18.

The new family area is in Block 29A and 31B to half of Blocks 36 and 37 in the East Stand.

Please note, family tickets cannot be bought online. Please call 0844 499 1234 or visit the Ticket Office to purchase.

Season Card holders wishing to keep their existing seats have until Saturday June 15 to do so.

New applicants can apply online at www.mfc.co.uk or request an application pack by emailing details to supporters@mfc.co.uk. New interest-free payment options have been introduced, with new five-month and 10-month instalment plans.

Alternatively, call 0844 499 1234 or collect an application form from the Ticket Office or either MFC Retail store.