Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

Why I Shall Be Protesting Tomorrow

It may come as a surprise to some but protest doesn?t come naturally to me. I?m a bit like a fish out of water to be honest; it?s outside my comfort zone... but sometimes, if you?re passionate about something, if you have genuine concern about something, you have to set aside your reservations and make the effort.

I?m not protesting about the performance of the team; I?m not even protesting about being the only club in England not to spend anything whatsoever to strengthen our team... we can?t spend what we haven?t got can we?

No, of course not; no, I?ll be protesting over the reasons why we?ve reached the position we?re in and the total intransigence being exhibited by the board and the senior managers towards us, the fans ? people who contribute £20m a season, people who are being treated with utter contempt.

We are a Premier League club with a Premier League manager and Premier League players; yet if there was a league for boards of directors ours would be lucky to remain in the Northern Premier League because continual failure leads to oblivion.

I now believe we?re in danger of doing what a few people have warned about; they?ve warned that we should be careful what we wish for, they?re concerned that we could follow Portsmouth, Leeds and West Ham; my concern is that this is exactly what we?re doing, we?re just doing it in a different fashion.

Despite the best efforts of some, our worst fears have been confirmed; the policies the club had been warned against for years ? selling assets, borrowing and attempting to address the stadium issue with totally inappropriate solutions ? have led to what CEO Robert Elstone promised wouldn?t happen..... the banks in control and being unable to support the manager, ?We have a highly qualified finance team and a good relationship with the bank; that wouldn't be allowed to happen?, Robert Elstone told us three years ago. Well sadly that?s exactly what has happened; and it's worse than expected, we?re crawling to the bank pleading with them not to kill us. Ten years is more than enough time to address this problem.

In the last published accounts, there were clear warnings; costs were rising and the company secretary painted a worrying picture. Well, twelve months on from that year-end, I?m reliably informed, straight from the horse?s mouth if you like, that last year those costs have actually increased, it?s worse than ever. The medicine isn?t pleasant and we all know nothing is going to change under this present regime.

Any business that has had a specialist from the bank sitting with the chairman sorting out the crisis clearly needs to undertake a review of how they?re operating. To me, it looks like three of the four board members do nothing whilst Bill is left to do all the running around; this clearly isn?t working.

This board appear unable to address the pertinent problems facing the club; there are no assets left, the banks appear unwilling to facilitate loans for working capital. To be then told that a proposal for real change is risible and completely unnecessary frankly beggars belief.

I?m personally disappointed with Robert Elstone; he had an opportunity to initiate change, he had the opportunity to stop the reliance on spin, stop those who mislead the fans, stop these ridiculous bans on local and national journalists who dare speak the truth... the whole thing has become a shambles and I fear that it?s payback time for those in the press who have been treated shamefully.

I don?t know who writes Robert Elstone?s blog for him but I think he needs to read them first if he?s going to put his name to them. ?We don?t need an interim board.? Good god, has he not listened to one word the Blue Union has said?

Change needs to happen; apart from the list of catastrophes already well acknowledged, if anybody is convinced that it?s prudent to leave the sale process in the hands of people who agreed a price for the club with someone, allowed them to conduct due diligence, and then were on the verge of signing away the club to someone living in a one-bedroom flat over a betting shop in Singapore, then you need to have a serious word with yourself.

Will a demonstration achieve change? No... but it will achieve awareness and understanding within the fanbase, the media, and with people who are influential. Change cannot be avoided, let?s hope there?s a smooth transition facilitated by proven professionals; the alternative will just see the club?s reputation damaged further.

I only wish the same effort that is being put into discrediting the protest could have been put into supporting the manager in the last transfer window.

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