English Premier League clubs could face a drop in attendances next season after a survey published on Wednesday showed spiralling season ticket prices were starting to hit fans in the pocket.

The poll, carried out by a leading finance company, said that one in eight season ticket holders would not be renewing next season -- a rise of 5 percent on last year.

Virgin Money's Football Fans Price Index -- based on responses from 2,013 fans -- showed a 17.8 percent rise in matchday costs, with nearly one in five fans saying they could not afford to attend all of their club's home fixtures.

Of the 20 clubs in England's top flight, West Ham United look likely to be hit hardest with 38 percent of their season ticket holders saying they would not be renewing next season.

However, the poll was carried out in April before the club's last-gasp escape from relegation.

Champions Manchester United's decision to increase their season ticket prices by 14 percent could also lead to fans staying away from Old Trafford. According to the survey, 24 percent of season ticket holders would not be renewing due to cost.

"Football clubs have to understand that fans can only take so much," said Virgin Money spokesman John Franklin.

"High ticket prices, pricey merchandise and matchday programmes are all contributing to an ordinary fan's regular costs. Loyalty should be rewarded, not exploited."

Steven Powell of the Football Supporters' Federation said ordinary fans were being priced out of the game.

"There is no doubt about it," he told Reuters. "Fans can do without replica kits and scarves, but they need to buy tickets and the prices are not sustainable.

"When you look at the prices of tickets in the Bundesliga or Primera Liga in Spain there is no comparison with the Premier League. Schalke are going for the title in Germany but the cheapest matchday ticket for an adult is 9 euros ($12.24).

"At Barcelona you can get the cheapest season ticket for 110 euros plus the membership fee. Compare that to Arsenal where the cheapest season ticket is 886 pounds."

Virgin's Price Index, which is made up of a notional basket of goods including things like a gallon of petrol, match tickets, food and a replica shirt showed the matchday spend in the Premier League had risen by 14 pounds in the last year to almost 92 pounds.