PRE-SEASON is upon us again. The time when teams put their players through arduous running drills to the point where they are forced to throw up.

Once again, a large number of Premier League clubs have flown across the world to enjoy the sun while gearing up for the new season. 

Australia, the United States and Thailand are just a few of the countries where teams will play friendlies over the next few weeks.

It was around this time last year that I wrote about the joke that pre-season had become. 

The early morning kick-offs meant that, if you wanted to watch your side play, you went to work the following morning with red eyes and a severe lack of sleep.

I had hoped that this time around a few teams would have decided to stay in England and treat their fans to friendlies at their home stadium.

How naive was I? There is money to be made by flying across the globe and playing fixtures in front of “die-hard fans.”

And it seems that more and more Championship and League One clubs are attempting to pick up more fans abroad and have their friendlies in other countries.

No disrespect towards the likes of Hull, who are currently in Portugal, and Queen’s Park Rangers, training in Italy, but how much can they really get from playing friendlies abroad?

There may be a few million to be made from a few high-profile friendlies in other countries but are they not further distancing themselves from their local communities?

My main gripe was with Manchester United last season, who were only playing the one game at Old Trafford before the season started. 

It meant that it was the only chance for fans to see their new signings and manager despite them being around for weeks beforehand.

If you are a fan of the Red Devils, the first chance you get get to see them live this year will be Saturday August 8 when they open their league campaign against Tottenham.

For some reason, the club have decided that no pre-season friendlies will be played at home this year. Just four games in the US and that is it.

How disrespectful is that to the local fans? To the young kids who want to see Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin wear the red shirt for the first time.

The club have paraded them all over social media since they signed but, unless you were at the airport before the team jetted off for their pre-season tour, you won’t see them in the flesh for another month.

But once again, there is money to be made by playing games in Seattle instead of Manchester. The big clubs see this time of year as a cash cow. It is why United can rake in so much from sponsorship deals. 

Brands know that during the summer, their logo will be seen in the US or Asia. They can reach new markets without doing much.

Real Madrid will make an estimated €20 million (£14m) from having their pre-season your in Australia. 

United will make a similar amount from being in the US. It is the equivalent of selling a high-profile player. 

As the game increases its international appeal, more money will be made from these trips.

This needs to change. 

I’m not a Chelsea fan but a few of my friends are. In 2008 a group of us travelled to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea were hosting an open day for fans.

It gave supporters a chance to watch the first-team train and meet the new manager at the time, Luiz Scolari. 

He had a message for those in attendance and so did Deco (thought I can’t remember what it was), who had also joined that summer.

It was a brilliant occasion and something that should be compulsory for teams. At least one open training session at the start of the summer for fans to go and see the players.

Bayern Munich had one last Saturday as the players returned to the club for the first time. It was a meet-and-greet session and it showed that the people who pay their hard-earned money week-in week-out are valued.

I praised Arsenal for sending a few first-team players to Boreham Wood last year. 

The two teams will meet again next week Friday but, with Arsene Wenger’s side currently in Singapore, it is likely to be a mixture of reserves and youngsters who take to the pitch at Meadow Park.

What really takes the biscuit is that when teams are playing abroad supporters are charged to watch. Everton offer fans a pre-season pass of £14.99 to watch six games. 

Alternatively, you can pay £3.99 for an away game or £1.99 for a home game if you don’t want to buy the whole lote. How about not charging supporters?

Given that a new shirt is released every year for at least £45 and how much away tickets cost, the least the club can do is stream matches for free on their website. 

Or make it free for season ticket holders or club members.

I would love more clubs to follow the lead of Bolton. The club are having a training camp in Austria before playing five games back in Britain. 

Fans still get to travel, just not spend ridiculous amounts on airplane tickets and hotel rooms.

It is clear that is the trend now and that supporters will be lucky if their team plays one friendly on home soil. 

It is another example of the ordinary fan being priced out of seeing their side play.