I don’t know Pawn but his record suggests a stubborn streak which makes him oblivious to those with different opinions. This, together with a need for control from the boardroom to the boot-room to the pitch, has made him dismissive of other points of view, and led him to fall out with managers, players, press, fans, and even the local council.
It’s also no surprise that some of the most influential people in the club seem to be his own family.
Despite all this, if plans had come to fruition, with dazzling, ‘sexy’ football, a promotion, and a ‘starchitect’ designed stadium, all would be fine.
But, it hasn’t. It’s gone from bad to worse, and there’s no sign it’ll get any better. With the club haemorraging cash, the aim is now to batten down the hatches, cut losses and protect business interests. And with no change in sight, the clubs most valuable asset – not the ground but the fans – are in revolt.
What seems to be needed is a greater willingness to listen and act on the advice of others, and a devolution of decision-making down to those who are professionally capable of exercising it. Of course, they have to have a decent budget to do the job too.
But perhaps most of all, the club needs to get in touch with its fans again, and a bit of sackcloth and ashes from Swanns Sr and Jr would go a long way to repairing and re-establishing relations. It would cost nothing in financial terms, and the gains could be immense. Give Me Sunshine? We can all wish.
