Reply To: Butler out 2.0

[Iron414]

‘United we stand’ is merely a tag line used to keep supporters showing up so the tills keep ringing at Glanford Park. But the reality is that the board are not in alignment with the majority of fans at the moment; Butlers extension, keeping him in post after the worst run of form since relegation season, endorsing the departure of our best players, sacking Turnbull, the Catering going from bad to worse etc. Moreover, I said before the start of the season the main indicator of success would be whether we could maintain the ‘feel good factor’ of last season. Unfortunately it is dissipating like a fart in the wind.

In the wake of ‘Hilton-Gate’ there was a surge in support for the club and since we’ve been riding the crest of a wave. People who hadn’t bothered with attending games for years, came out of the woodwork and the 5 and 6 goal victories, entertaining football, and moments of brilliance from some of our best players, kept them coming back.

Now the ‘almost lost the club’ narrative is losing gravitas, the football is god awful to watch, we’re out of both cups and looking increasingly likely to be floating round the middle of the table for the second half of the season.

Add to that the ‘fans favourites’ departing; The couple of players that had endeared themselves to fans off the pitch with charitable donations, questionable hairstyles, passion for the club and general likability. Now we seem to have a group of lads, disconnected from the fans who look like they can’t be arsed.

The manager and his repetitive interviews are adding to frustrations. He’s becoming insufferable. Despite Jimmy’s tactical shortcomings he was a fairly affable chap. Andy is arrogant, stubborn as a mule, showing no signs of learning and running down the tunnel at full time, two home games on the spin, after lapping up the glory and fist pumping up the DRE at the start of the season.

The warning signs are clear that the fair weathers are losing interest. FA Trophy gate was down around 30% on the same game last year, some fans are explicitly stating they are staying away or not travelling to away games. Gate numbers for league games are looking OK but with a record breaking year of season ticket sales, how many of those fans are actually paying for tickets? I’d imagine a fair amount less than last season. Lose the fair weather fans and it will be VERY difficult to entice them back.

‘Doom and Gloom’ as you call it is just a dose of reality. What good does looking through rose tinted spectacles do? It’s the hope that kills you. All the positivity at the start of the season and we’ve been served up the most negative brand of football in years.