Fan response to Whalley statement

Walsall blogger Mark Jones was there for the protests and has his own answer to chief executive Roy Whalley's threat as the bad blood boils between fans and club.

Witty, funny and clever. Three words I would use to describe the flag unfurled at Monday's Wycombe game.

Just to avoid any confusion I'm not referring to the anti-Chris Hutchings one aimed at the manager, which is an inevitable response to the recent poor performances and part of a movement which will take its own course over the coming weeks and months.

No, the banner in question is a Cyprus flag - which to my knowledge is not illegal in any way, shape or form - with the slogan 'Pension Fund FC.'

Born out of anger, frustration and disillusionment for sure but most definitely witty, funny and clever. It was also interesting to hear some of the new chants aired by fans on Monday. I've a feeling they will catch on.

Apparently though a flag with non-offensive wording is in breach of the fabled 'Ground Regulations' and is 'inciteful' - although I'm not actually sure that's a proper word.

I can only suggest we all need to go and inspect these Ground Regulations, available at the Ticket Office according to my 2009/10 Season Ticket booklet as I couldn't find them anywhere on the official website, because I'm sure I've seen flags at the ground before – pretty much every game that's ever been played there in fact.

Come to think of it aren't they sold in the club shop? Danger, annoyance or a nuisance, come on!

According to one report, a high ranking official at the club complained that the atmosphere had actually been spoiled on Monday by one flag briefly being waved and a bit of singing, and that it had been 'really good' in the two previous home games.

To which I can only respond with disbeilef.

At almost every game I've been to for the past two years - and many before that - the atmosphere has been shocking, so I was actually glad to hear some singing and some new songs of any description.

The whole premise of this latest rant from chief executive Roy Whalley, the protagonist if you hadn't guessed, is that the flag-bearers are a few bad apples, part of some tiny minority intent on bringing rampant destruction to the harmonious good ship that is the Walsall Football Club of today.

According to him. if they don't stop being naughty boys and girls then other fans won't come and watch Chris's team any more, so Roy will have to take his ball home and there won't be a club at all.

Then it will all those nasty little people's fault. - see we can all be childish when we want.

As is usually the case, Roy has got it so horribly wrong it's unbelievable. After all these years, you'd think he'd learn.

First and foremost he doesn't get the idea that you can support the team and still be critical or, as he puts it, negative. That's precisely the point of the 'Love the Saddlers, hate Bonser' chant.

These guys are still dedicated fans, they've paid to get in the ground for starters. Furthermore the idea of protesting against a regime is exactly the same principle that Whalley had himself when he was part of the anti-Wheldon campaigns of 1982 and 1986.

Another criticism that is classic 'Whalleyspeak' is that people 'need to start looking at the wider picture.'

Spot on, people looked at the wider picture when Scott Dann was sold, when the club announced £2.7million of debt and when they work out that around a grand a day goes out of the club in rent.

They see fans staying away in their thousands and wonder how long the downward spiral can be allowed to continue unabated, they decide that they're sick and tired of it and they try and do whatever they can to make their voices heard. It's called democracy.

Big picture? If you could see a medium-sized one it would be a start Roy.

Then you get the 'big employer in the town and people rely on the football club for their income' mantra. So surely this has to be an argument that it's in their best interests for their employers start to listen to their customers for a change, isn't it?

It is not illegal for people to express an opinion or state their preferences, and no-one's job is going to be put at risk just because of a few peaceful protests.

Especially when those people are parting with around £500 per season, multiply that by 3,000 fans and spread it across two decades to see who's actually been providing the bulk of the income all these years.

Similarly I very much doubt that anyone who has managed to stick around supporting the club by still attending is about to be put off by a few humorous chants. But it would be interesting to hear how many fans Mr Whalley thinks might actually return to the ground as a direct result of his latest comments. I suspect it is a big fat zero.

Some people do indeed believe that there are those who are putting the future of the football club on the line and risking people's livelihoods, but it's certainly not the paying customers. So the next Focus Group Meeting, promised before the end of the season, should be a lively affair.

Just accept it Roy, people don't like Jeff Bonser or the situation with the rent, they have become increasingly disillusioned, and fans are staying away in droves. This is nothing new, it's been festering for years. I hate to tell you this, but I don't think many people care for you too much right now either.

Acting like a big bully, threatening to ban people without any justification for doing so and making almost laughable accusations simply makes you look even more out of touch. You've probably just lit the blue touch paper for even more protests.

I can't see this one going away anytime soon.