James Marchant

Sean Dyche, Brian Clough’s influence, the art of man-management and who motivates the motivator? open.substack.com/pub/henryw…

On the road for a few days interviewing players and a manager for @TimesSport . Thanks for all the kind messages and comments about the @WeAreTheFSA award voted by fans. Because without the fans’ protests, the European Super League would have destroyed the English game. Without the fans, @premierleague wouldn’t get the huge broadcast deals. Viewers love the atmosphere. Look at Kenilworth Road last night. It’s stating the obvious but the PL has to appreciate better the fans inside the grounds, where VAR delays particularly grate, partly because of the shocking absence of communication, and where constant changes to dates and kick-off times make life even more complicated and expensive for match-going fans. Let alone ticket prices, gradually creeping up at certain clubs who should know better and even those who traditionally looked after fans. It’s like eveyone at the PL has forgotten what football was like behind closed doors during lockdown. Silent beyond Conor Coady’s lively exhortations. Players did well maintaining a competitive edge but games were soulless as well as soundless. So fans deserve more respect. The 3pm blackout isn’t an issue any more as most games will now be televised at other times. If you’re going to trash tradition as the PL does then at least have the intelligence and empathy to reduce ticket prices (and away should be £20). We know they want the tourist market, because of merchandising, but will these floating day-trippers still be there when the priced-out fans, especially the 18-24s on limited income anyway, can’t or won’t turn up and the atmosphere disappears? PL exploits fans’ loyalty when it should be thanking them for keeping the league alive by fighting off the ESL plotters. The sport is still superb but the industry stinks. The PL’s reputation as organisers has never been lower amongst fans. The harsh punishment of Everton at a time when the (admittedly far more complicated) alleged Manchester City breaches have still to be addressed confirms the PL has lost its way. To fans, the PL appears to think more about lawyers than loyal supporters. Fans deserve more respect. Sermon over, back on the road.