Ipswich manager Paul Lambert paid for around 50 of the club’s fans to travel to their game at Blackburn on Saturday.
The 49-year-old paid the £37 tickets, amounting to almost £1,800, out of his own pocket as a way of “saying thanks” for the support he has received from supporters.
The reimbursement, offered before the journey to the game, was accompanied by an individual note signed by Lambert on each of the fans’ coach seats.
The letter read: “I’m told you are travelling to our game against Blackburn at the weekend on the official club coaches.
“As a personal thank you for making the long journey to support the team, I would like to pay your costs for the coach trip.
“This club is lucky in that it enjoys fantastic support home and away and without you the fans, we don’t have a game.
“On a personal note, I really appreciated the support I have received from the supporters, and this is my way of saying thanks to people like you who travel all over the country to support this club.
“I have arranged with the club for you to be reimbursed for your travel costs and once again, thanks for your support. Enjoy the game.”
Ipswich are bottom of the Championship and suffered a 2-0 defeat at Ewood Park, but the gesture was well received by fans.
Lambert told BBC Radio Suffolk: “It’s not a PR stunt – if it was, I would have done it at every club I’ve been at and I’d be skint!”
The former Norwich boss joined Ipswich in October, replacing Paul Hurst, with the club already at the foot of the Championship table.
He has since lost nine of his 14 games in charge, but recently cut the gap to safety to seven points.
Lambert says he will remain with the Tractor Boys next season, even if they are relegated to the third tier.