THE online top-up system for the new cashless card system at the Ricoh Arena has been made free of charge.

Some Coventry City supporters who have already logged on and topped up with a credit card may have been charged a levy through the existing system.

Those fans can now log on again to claim a refund after ACL chief executive Daniel Gidney got the levy lifted until after the Aldershot game on Wednesday night.

He said: "I was unhappy that supporters were being charged to top-up via the web in this way.

"Because the debit card system is currently unavailable, I do not believe it is acceptable to charge those supporters topping up with a credit card.

"Therefore, anyone topping up between now and the Aldershot game will do so for free and those who have already paid can claim a refund online.

"We will have further discussions with the company behind the cashless system ahead of Wednesday night's match to make sure we can come to a suitable arrangement until the system is able to accept debit card payments.

"Hopefully, this will now encourage more supporters to log on and top-up ahead of tomorrow's exciting kick-off against Norwich City. Or, of course, they can top-up with one of the many cashless card staff at the Ricoh Arena on a match day."

The new card combines supporters' season tickets and also enables them to buy food and refreshments.

Renewing season-ticket holders have had a complimentary £7 added to their card which can be spent at any point at the first three games, and there will also be cards for fans attending on a match-by-match basis.

Daniel added: "As we have said all along, this service has been designed to speed up transactions and to help the customer experience at the Ricoh, but it is obviously a big change and we would ask supporters for their understanding."