Air of doom and gloom amongst fans

Last updated : 02 February 2008 By C. Morris

The Sheffield derby apart, the moral amongst many Wednesday supporters in relation to their team is very low.

The fans have had little to cheer on the pitch both away, where nine games without a win tells its own sorry story and at Hillsborough the performance in the win over Preston was nothing to write home about and the displays against the likes of Watford, Colchester and yesterday against Ipswich were abject at best.

Off the pitch things are no better. Listening to fans at the ground and in the pubs on match-days and viewing internet message boards it is clear that supporters are unhappy with the direction in which the club is heading.

The board are reluctant to disclose any information to the fans about potential takeovers, stating only that discussions are ongoing. This leaves the fans in the dark and while it may be to the clubs advantage to keep things under wraps in the short-term, hardly anything is ever said officially on this subject while rumours and speculation abound with nothing materialising.

We as supporters are often asked to turn up at get behind the team, with the club acknowledging that our support is vital but what do we get in return for our loyalty?

I have been a season-ticket holder for as long as I have been able to make my own way to Hillsborough and afford the fee-15 years and counting and what have I seen in return? Shop discount cut from 10% to 5%, Owls Away Card ID system introduced and then duly scrapped not long after and ID pictures in season tickets that no one on the turnstiles ever looks at.

I can accept that the club is in financial difficulty but not recognising the loyalty of its customers puts them at risk of losing more income. The offers like bring a friend for a fiver and such like are no use to me as a loyal fan. They simply get someone in who doesn't attend regularly for cheaper than I have paid in the season ticket.

In the past 10 seasons there have been maybe two that have been worthy of note, an exception to the rule that has been a downward spiral and yet when the team is struggling we get the call to turn up and give them the backing they need.

It is time for the club to recognise the loyal support that SWFC has received and show the fans that their commitment to the cause is appreciated, to give the supporters a boost that they deserve.