Football League – Hang your heads in shame

Last updated : 19 September 2003 By Tony Scholes

The clowns with no bottle whatsoever who are responsible for running this league have once again bowed to the pressure from this set of Pariahs and have said yes to a game against Burnley taking place in a City that has no right whatsoever to stage English league football subject to a safety certificate being obtained.

This is the City that sat and did absolutely nothing as its only football club, Milton Keynes City, went in to liquidation and died but is the City that thinks it is right and proper to bring in a club from elsewhere on a franchising agreement.

And so the move, a move that has never been anything other than an enabling development deal, has been given the go ahead. It has been given the green light regardless of the views of supporters of that particular club or indeed of any other.

The minute people go to the game next week it has opened up franchising in English football and opened the door for any other unscrupulous business man to pick up a club and take it exactly where he likes.

Barry Kilby could now move Burnley FC to Cornwall and I’ll tell you, there is nothing you or I could do to stop him now. I’m certain Barry wouldn’t do that but he won’t be here for ever and whoever takes charge next could do just that.

The owners of this club tried it on with the football authorities and incredibly have won, they have beaten these people who have no right to administer our game in any way.

The League’s Head of Communications John Nagle has said today following the decision to allow the move, "This should give the club the opportunity it has sought to establish itself within the Milton Keynes area and help resolve its financial difficulties so that it can hopefully exit administration in the near future."

Marvellous Nagle, now shut the door on your way out because the game of football can do without people like you. Don’t forget to take Mawhinney with you and call in at the FA and pick up the 3 man commission. What hope is there for the game?

It doesn’t stop there and we can add the insulting words of the administrators, yes they are still in administration. "It’s been a very difficult time for all the people involved with the club, the players, staff and the fans.

"Of course I also acknowledge that there will be a significant number of fans in the Wimbledon area who will be disappointed with the move and I am cognisent of their disappointment at this news."

I am not telling Burnley supporters to stay away next week, I cannot even ask them to stay away. But I will ask them to think very carefully before they decide to go and to realise that by going through the turnstiles you are endorsing franchising in English football.

I urge you to think very carefully about staying away from this game. If you intend missing just one game this season then please make it this one.

If you must go then please make your voice heard against franchising and be careful with how much you have to pay, I wouldn’t put it past this lot to charge us a lot and then let locals in for next to nothing to boost the crowd.

Today I’m afraid is a very sad day for English football, a black day for English football.