'Seems fans are split' over new Sunderland membership

[Getty Images] Sunderland supporters are currently debating the club's new membership scheme, which has quickly become a divisive issue among the fanbase. The new scheme means the only club in the Premier League without a membership offering some sort of ticket priority system is Bournemouth . Explaining the situation, BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes said: "The scheme is open to all fans and it works on three different levels with a variety of benefits depending on which category you pay for. "The annual fees range from £20 to £48. Membership schemes are common in the Premier League because it allows clubs to tap into their support abroad, but the scheme is also aimed at offering members priority to tickets and this is where there is some debate. I have seen a fair amount of debate about the fairness of the scheme reading through the comments on social media and it seems fans are split. "Those in favour because it gives them a better chance to buy away tickets through a ballot, but it's worth stressing those with Black Cat points will still get priority and 90% of away tickets. But, the scheme allows season card holders who possibly couldn't go to many away games a chance to buy tickets and it opens the door to a generation to get on the ladder for Black Cat's points. "I've seen some concerns from fans who would want more than one ticket and whether, if they can get more than one, they can sit together. "If you're not a season card holder then to get tickets for home games you'd have to join the scheme in the Black Cats adult or academy category because the waiting list is officially closed, but the membership scheme will give you a place on that waiting list." How do you feel about the new membership scheme? And what concerns, if any, has it raised for you? Let us know here [BBC]