Manchester United have abandoned plans to charge fans for the right to apply for away tickets and promised to keep in place their loyalty-pot scheme.

The club had been discussing bringing in a Premier League travel club in which supporters might have to pay a "nominal" joining fee – the initial figure under consideration being £20 – to be allocated an ID card.

The Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association estimated that more than 50,000 people would join such a scheme, potentially making the club a seven-figure sum. The idea had led to allegations that United's ruling Glazer family were trying to make up for the loss of revenue from having frozen season-ticket prices.

However, the club have decided to stick with their current scheme after the subject was discussed at a meeting this afternoon of the official fans' forum, involving the chief executive, David Gill.