Why Should The Fans Suffer ?

Interesting blog post on BBC Football here. As usual, while there are some good comments in there, it doesn't take long for someone to cry "After all, why should the football fan suffer ?". Sigh.

First of all, as is pointed out almost immediately, when these reckless gambles pay off, the fans benefit hugely. Trophies, bragging rights, the lot. Portsmouth won their first trophy in what, 50 years ?

Secondly, clubs are driven to take these gambles in part because of fan pressure. If fans accepted that their club's income was not high enough to compete for promotion, or to avoid relegation, realised that club and players were doing their best within these constraints and took bad results or seasons on the chin, then fair enough. But what really happens is that the majority are booing the team off and whingeing on phone-ins about the club "not showing any ambition". QPR lost £19 million last year according to their accounts. If the club sold players and cut wages to the extent required to keep the yearly deficit to a manageable level (not break even, just manageable), the majority of fans (most certainly the loud majority) would throw a fit.

And thirdly, when club A spends beyond its means, wins promotion and then goes into administration a year later, sticking two fingers up at all its creditors, explain to me why the fans of club B, who played by the book and missed out on promotion should suffer ? When their club didn't even do anything wrong ?

Once again, I endorse the comments of Barry Hearn a couple of months ago. Overspending such that you end up having to go into administration is cheating. Hammer clubs who do it. Double relegation. Fans can either realise in advance that this is not the way to go about things or fucking lump it.