By Jason McKeown
I want to start by telling you a quick story. We go back to May 2018, and the end of a difficult Bradford City season where things were starting to unravel. The February 2018 sacking of Stuart McCall was controversial and had not worked out, with the Bantams slumping to mid-table and criticism of the ownership fierce.
At Width of a Post then, we were very much leading the criticism. I’d become aware – through various contacts – that all was not well behind the scenes, around the time of the infamous January FA Cup defeat to Yeovil. Over the subsequent months, I wrote several stinging articles highlighting concerns and slamming the-then chairman, Edin Rahic. Many fans and readers were unhappy at this stance, believing WOAP to be a largely pro-club website that should always support the club. I received many angry messages, emails and phone calls. A lot of people were upset at me.
Including the-then chairman.
And so in May 2018, a couple of weeks after the season ended, I received a message from the club’s then-marketing communications manager (I won’t name him here, he’s actually a really good guy and he’s gone on and had a good career elsewhere), inviting me and other Bradford City fan media creators for a meeting with Edin. It took place on a Tuesday night at the Hollins Hall hotel in Baildon. There was only me and Mike Harrison, editor of City Gent, able to make it. We made our way to the hotel bar to be greeted by the marketing communications manager and Rahic, not sure what to expect.
It began really nicely. They addressed Mike, offering wholesome praise for the endurance of the City Gent. They called it a Bradford City institution to be proud of, and offered Mike access and support if he ever wanted to conduct interviews with anyone at the club. Smiles all around.
Then they turned to me.
And, suddenly, the smiles disappeared off their faces.
What followed from them both was anger at me for the coverage I had given City and Edin on WOAP for the last few months. Claims I was undermining their efforts. Frustration that I didn’t understand what they were trying to achieve. I’d got many things wrong, in their eyes, and they wanted to straighten them out.
And so we spent the next hour or so with a mixture of Edin trying to portray a vision of how wonderful everything was at the club (I remember him saying he’d never been more confident than he was right now, as he would finally be able to do things his way), and the pair bringing up specific articles I’d written to discuss why they felt I was wrong or out of order.
It was a long night.
I share this story with you because it’s an example – and an extreme one – of the kind of scrutiny and reaction that WOAP can get. I wish I could say it was a one off, but over the years I’ve had plenty of conversations with different people at the club, unhappy with something we wrote. It’s also not the only time I’ve been sat down by someone at the club, to go through specifics of an article I’d written.
That kind of pushback always puts us in a trickier position than, say, someone anonymously writing a Tweet or message board comment having a go at the club. There’s a greater responsibility on us to be fair-minded and constructive. And when we do put the boot in, it can have greater repercussions on us.
The club is the club. What’s always more important for a site like WOAP is the reaction and feedback of supporters. I always strive to be balanced with our approach. To look at the positives and the negatives. That level of balance is valued by some, but not by everyone. And so in times like 2018 when we’re negative, it can really offend and hurt some supporters to see us turn on the club. At other times, when we’re positive about City and others disagree, we can get accused of being in the club’s pocket or of being delusional. Of being soft.
It can all put you in a position that you don’t really want to be in. I write WOAP for a hobby with no pay – it actually costs money and certainly takes up an awful lot of time. A few ramblings from me, a fan who is as normal (I think) as anyone else attending Valley Parade, doesn’t deserve the status it sometimes gets. I read a few weeks ago on the Bantams Talk site someone call me a coward and maybe that’s true. I’m not here to lead the revolution, for example. I’m just the guy writing about it from the sidelines.
All of which nicely brings me on to the here and now, and a Bradford City season that it’s fair to say is not going to plan. Tensions are rising. Passions are high. And in such circumstances, staying balanced isn’t easy. There’s a lot of supporters upset with the club, others are still right behind it. And what I find, writing and editing WOAP, is that both sides of the debate want to see their view represented. And they’re not too keen to hear the opposing interpretation of events.
As an example, earlier this season I published a couple of articles from other City fans, defending the club. There was a fierce backlash from social media, and I got some pretty abrupt emails. One fan got in touch to say he and his friends had loved WOAP for many years – but because I published these articles, they will never read anything we ever do again.
And then there’s the critical side, of which a lot of my articles have been this season. Again I’ve upset a lot of people for being negative – including people who up until recently considered me as their friend. Given the site’s long-standing reputation for being positive about the club, and the lack of pro-club supporter outlets, I think many of these supporters feel especially let down. I get it, I really do.
Recently, one long-time reader, and someone whose opinion I greatly value, got in touch to compare us to the Cows Arse message board, dubbing us TCA Lite. The thrust of his point, that I was writing stuff that was suddenly currying favour with people who have spent years actively slating the club, was fair. Another friend has said I should wind down the site, as it no longer serves an intellectual purpose.
Feedback is a gift, as they say. My point of this article is not to challenge other people’s views or even defend the site. It actually arises from a challenge from one of those unhappy people who got in touch. His argument is that I owe it to readers to explain my position and offer more context.
So here goes.
Ultimately, I’ve lost confidence in those who run Bradford City. I’m not going to go through all the mistakes I believe have been made. This doesn’t feel like the right moment to start up that debate. We all know the issues – and you can read about them in other articles on the site.
I just don’t see much over the season that gives me confidence the club can be successful with the current structure and decision-making approach. The fact the club has struggled badly for all but one season since the 2017 play off defeat (the 2022/23 campaign) all adds to my lack of faith.
More importantly for me, I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this. There are always extreme views no matter what’s going on – some fans will habitually back the club no matter what they do, and some will always criticise – but it’s those fans in the middle where there seems to be a genuine shift in attitude.
I talk to many fans – fans I’ve known for years, who absolutely love and adore the club. They’ve had enough. They’ve lost hope. Many have either stopped bothering going to games this season, or made it clear they won’t be renewing next season. There are other people I don’t know as well, but whose opinions I’m used to following on Twitter and Facebook. These fans – many of whom travel all over the country following City – equally sound fed up. The people you go to for an optimistic slant on events now appear just as disillusioned
I don’t deliberately try to reflect the majority viewpoint – I always stick to being honest about how I’m personally feeling. But on the topic of the leadership, strategy and ownership of the club, I do think that how I’m feeling right now is in line with a significant majority of fans.
And that means our output has become more critical than it used to be. It doesn’t come from a position of hatred towards anyone employed by the club, or a desire for them to fail. But from where I’m sitting in my season ticket in the Kop, I believe we should be doing a lot better – and that as fans we’re justified to expect that. We are currently ranked the seventh-worst club in the 92 – and that’s largely our own fault.
All of which brings me back to moments like directly facing the wrath of Edin, six years ago. WOAP is a high profile platform, whether I think it should be or not. I know my views have some level of gravitas that mean I need to take extra responsibility. And that there can be consequences for me to face that other supporters don’t have to experience.
But that’s also why I think it’s really important to be critical where I feel it’s justified. This isn’t the club’s PR department and never will be. If our criticism upsets or hurts those within the club, so be it. We all want a better Bradford City. And everything we write or say on our podcasts stems from this core value. At WOAP we have a louder voice than others, and at times like this we need to use it.
So if you’ve been unhappy with something we’ve written of late, I’m both sorry and not sorry. The door is always open for anyone wanting to write counter views. WOAP is meant to be a place for all Bradford City supporters who want to read in-depth writing and listen to lengthy podcasts on the fortunes of the club. Everyone is encouraged to submit their comments and views.
Please know you are welcome here, and that we really appreciate your company. Just know, too, you won’t always agree with everything our collection of writers have to say.
Categories: Opinion
widthofapost.com 
I really appreciate the site and your articles. BCFC is more than just the people running it at any one time. I believe the tone of your posts is a fair reflection of the performance on and off the pitch. Please keep up the great work.
For what it’s worth, Jason, with reference to the first part of the article (and I know you’re not fishing for compliments), I think WOAP does a great job. I don’t always agree with some posts but I accept that some people see things in a different way to me. I also believe that to be ‘pro-club’ doesn’t always mean being positive. When things aren’t working it has to be called out in a constructive way for the benefit for the club. For me, WOAP does that.
Keep doing what you’re doing, Jason. The only cowards are the ones hiding behind pseudonyms and avatars on social media.
100% agree long after I’m in a box this club will still belong to us fans. Football fans are fickle always will be, to a club like us in lower league football more so. Every win is a fight and a fight that this season we have lost or drawn. Valley parade has become an obstacle that despite huge fan base, the players can’t rise to the expectations. To hear phrases last night of keep us a float don’t go bust was awful absolutely no future under Rupp no ambition, maybe the bookies nearby need to listen so that they know not to hype us up next year.
Over the years WOAP tend to take the temperature of the room pretty accurately. As you mention we support invest in and love the club so absolutely want it to succeed.
Therefore when criticism is aired it should be viewed as being made with the clubs best interests at heart.
I would like to think that most of the base aren’t fooled by the clubs current communications which are papering over the chasms.
Fundamentally those in charge have badly failed. Trying to change the narrative as in last nights radio Leeds whitewash won’t work.
Positive change is required to move the club forwards. That starts at the top. Owner and CEO.
Message a support Jason. I greatly appreciate WOAP for the excellent writing and balance you bring to coverage of the club. It’s always great to read the post match articles as it helps process the outcome of the games to reflect on the positives and negatives. I also generally enjoy reading the comments from others because it confirms and/or challenges my own thoughts and feelings. I personally have never found any of your articles to be unbalanced or bias. As you say I think you reflect the majority view/feeling of the vast majority. There will always be those on the extremes who disagree, but keep up the good work!
For what it’s worth, Jason, with reference to the first part of your article (and I don’t think you’re fishing for compliments), I think WOAP does a great job of reflecting the different opinions of fans. I don’t always agree with what a contributor has written but I read and reflect on what is sometimes food for thought.
I do usually find that I agree with you yourself, Jason, about many things Bradford City and I also share the current despondency which has me thinking about taking a season out.
As a platform for differing fans’ viewpoints, WOAP is a valuable part of the unofficial background of supporting a club, be it fanzines, websites, or podcasts should be able to criticise when necessary. Being ‘pro-club’ doesn’t mean accepting everything as gospel. When things are not right, you have a duty to say so.
Keep doing what you’re doing, Jason. The only cowards are the ones hiding behind pseudonyms and avatars on social media.
Rest assured, Jason, Width of a Post is read and admired by right-thinking supporters – and is unique among football sites for its high level of impartiality, insight and football erudition. Those of us who contribute to it pseudonymously do not appreciate the perils of going public. Personally, I would have walked out of the Hollins Hill meeting if someone had tried to harangue me. It is to your credit that you stayed and listened.
I will be very interested to read your take, or that of one of your writers, on last night’s Radio Leeds’ programme. For what it’s worth, mine is below.
I anticipated that Sparks would try to rally supporters with fighting talk, rousing words about really going for it next season, if we don’t succeed in this. The nearest he came to the upbeat was the suggestion of two trips to Wembley still being possible this year and the gap in the league not being ‘insurmountable’. He said he understood and shared fans’ ‘disappointment’ and ‘frustration’, before attempting shakily to redefine mediocrity. We learned that his mandate was to keep the club solvent and safe from relegation and this surprisingly minimal requirement was his understanding of mediocrity. That’s what he had meant to say. He wanted of course to do more and seemed to consider he had done, referencing the achievement in reaching the playoffs (of the last man he sacked).
The buzz word ‘sustainable’ was used a good deal but there was no meaningful attempt to answer the question of the club’s ethos, strategy and plans.
On the whole, he sounded very defensive and lacking his usual bombast. Of course it would have helped if Raynor could have followed up the answers but they went largely unchallenged. Presumably that was the agreed format. Sparks went on to unashamedly confess to having made ‘plenty of errors’, a necessary consequence, he believed, of this being his first job. If this was supposed to show humility, it was grievously misplaced. Here we have a CEO, noted for his bravado, now admitting he had been learning on the job. Notwithstanding this acknowledged capacity for mistakes, he batted away the suggestion of employing a Director of Football: although he might at some stage consider it because, after all, ‘all cards are on the table’.
Probably the biggest clanger likely to ring down the ages was, ‘When I took over the club had no idea how to sign players’. What does that say about the judgment of Julian Rhodes, the man who appointed him?
I found it more than a little ironic he should say he had not been specifically tasked by Mr Rupp with selling the club, as though that were significant. I would have been worried if he had because of the obvious disincentive that to find a buyer would be to put himself out of a job. The kindest possible thing I can say is all I see here is a very naive young man beginning to realise he may well be in the terminal phase of his tenure.
Gent, hailed on his appointment as knowing everything worth knowing about players in the EFL, seemed to know remarkably little about anything. His assessment of the players he’d signed: ‘mixed, if I’m honest … some haven’t worked out as we’d hoped … hindsight … we will learn moving forward’. I doubt this will do much for the morale of the players.
Alexander said he was ‘open minded’ but knew that results are more important than style. I did think he wilfully chose to avoid the main thrust of the question about Young’s role as a second striker. He was, however, the only one of the three not to inflict damage on his reputation.
If Sparks thought this was going to turn the tide, he sadly miscalculated – not for the first time, by his own admission.
It’s a sad state of affairs and the longer things are allowed to drift, the worse they are likely to become. The spotlight must now fall on Herr Rupp’s intentions.
I look forward to Jason’s assessment and that of others on this forum.
Mitchell, your article is spot on. Listening to the podcast last night
Confirmed my theries of the present set up.
If you’re getting it from both sides you know you’re doing something right.
Stay with your beliefs and editorial sense, it’s worked well so far!
Well said Jason. I am one of the middle group of supporters you talk about. I saw my first City game almost 50 years ago and am seriously considering not renewing my season ticket next season and the group I meet and sit with are talking about staying in the pub during future seasons
Jason i’ve always enjoyed the articles on WOAP and admire your leadership. The whole idea of it is to allow City fans the chance to voice their comments , unlike the T&A which is just a place to have a go at each other. Everyone has an opinion which may be different from mine , thats fine we are all City fans. It’s obvious that the damage done by Rahic still runs deep , to be fair to Stefan Rupp he stood by the club when we really needed him .
It’s all depressing watching at the moment and no easy fix. I only have HOPE that things will change but i will continue to attend VP as i have done for years , Saturday shoppings not for me anyway !
Keep up the good work Jason and Co. It’s important to have the ability to have your say and WOAP does that .
I can’t believe how timid we all are
We clawed our way out of 10 years of abject misery just to be bought by a guy who has wrecked everything that we painstakingly built
We are heading to oblivion and yet there are no protests
We hear that someone would have invested good money but Rupp wanted more
He needs to get out of our club or we will have no club
Sell to the highest bidder by the end of the season or I won’t be back
Happy Clappy? Or Trigger Happy? Like so much of the world right now, fans of Bradford City are experiencing an Age of Camps. Of binary positions. For or against the club? For or against the manager, the players, “the-now” Chairman? And largely because of the channels we have for participating in this debate, the urge is to pick a side. “Us” versus “them”.
But what’s sadly lost in the age of camps, and what matters most to any community of people who ultimately share the same hopes and ambitions, is a collective sense of “we”.
Nobody is happy at Bradford City right now. Not the fans, not the manager, and certainly not the CEO. But whatever each of us sees as the path to progress, refusing to look beyond that intensifying binary divide of “us” and “them” is only ever going to be self-defeating. Just because the other camp exists – the happy clappers, or the trigger happies – seems to mean each camp becomes the most extreme version of itself. Just to drown out, to defeat the other camp.
But nobody really wins. It’s all ultimately self-defeating as it just leads to further division. Just at the moment when, as fans, we need togetherness, understanding, and solidarity. Be honest – are we really ready to look out for each other and lead a coup d’etat?
And this is where WOAP plays a most vital role as the village message board. It’s the place the community looks to for guidance on how everyone else is feeling. And Jason, humble as ever, your ability to write and capture the essence of being a Bradford City fan over so many years is only surpassed by your bravery in carefully walking a treacherous line between these camps.
It’s an awesome task, done voluntarily for the joy of writing, sure, but also for the good of the village. Once or twice a week, you and the team of writers pin up notices on that board and so put yourselves in the crosshairs. You willingly become the only available target for the unloading of anger, frustration, and increasingly widespread disillusionment.
I can’t think of many things less cowardly.
Well said Sir! We can all appreciate each other’s views and take away what we like or don’t like. Agree or disagree on articles, comments posts etc but long live WOAP!! Keep up the good work Jason & team!
Absolutely agree. Excellently summed up.
Spot on Jason l am with you 100% You say it as it is always well thought out and balanced . We are in a mess both on and off the pitch loads of issues need to be addressed but until someone takes responsibility for this we are on a downward spiral unfortunately l can’t see the present hierarchy being willing or capable of doing it. This football club has the potential to be so much better the fans who are the beating heart of the club deserve nothing less
Totally agree with all of this. There is minority in the support base who have blind faith. People like myself have lost faith. Die hard supporters like myself have lost faith! Something has to change at the top !
Maybe I’m one of those fans somewhere in the middle.
My honest feeling is that both sides are right. The club is badly run, with a history of being badly run. We do deserve much better. We should be much more successful than we are, even with our long history of lower league football. We have a distant owner and a bit of a shambles of an operation, with very !imited ambition, judging by the debacle of the fans forum last night.
At the same time, I’ve long felt that if supporters just let them get on with it and backed the club, backed the manager, backed the team, backed individual players, even backed that player who is struggling and has become the new scapegoat-maybe especially that player-this club could have a lot more success. In other words, happy clapping.
I think there are two ways out of the division. One is protests, turmoil, hoping for major change which then comes, proves to be a success and transforms the direction and fortunes of the club. The other is backing everything and anything the club do, harnessing the energy of valley parade to lift the players, and the club, to higher things. It may be that only once we’re in League One would we be sellable at a price Stefan Rupp would accept, so real change can only come after success, not the other way round.
The second one seems easier on paper, but simply isn’t going to happen right now is it. So that leaves option one, turmoil, and who knows where that could lead us.
Maybe there is a middle way which I’ve missed, I don’t know. Something like backing the team through thick and thin, while at the same time demanding more from the club.
Perhaps most likely is that we’ll keep on bumbling on as we are, with a mix of discontent and loyal backing, and hoping to get lucky with a manager one day.
Thanks Jason for a thoughtful piece and all your efforts which are appreciated.
So much entitlement in this I’m afraid. “We should be more successful” Why? On what basis? The world has changed. Having a big stadium filled with cheap season tickets (some young kids who would rather go under the seat so their mobile phone isn’t affected by lights) doesn’t entitle us to anything. We are where we are and it’s roots literally go back to Richmond and his 6 weeks of madness.
Agree about the six weeks of madness, which have led to twenty years of hurt. A big city with a big club like City deserves better.
I love this page and your reports Jason (and those of the other people that write in) 9 times out of 10 you some how capture what I’m seeing myself but write it in a much better way than I ever could. I also like reading the reports and comments with an alternative view to mine because think it’s important to listen to all sides to give a balance even if I disagree.
I honestly think that if the recent reports wasn’t more negative than positive then you wouldn’t be catching the mood of the majority of our fan base at the minute. I think the fan base already feel underrepresented from the club and that the communication is dire these days so I’m sure many like myself really appreciate this pages reports and comments.
I can imagine it being pretty hard to keep a balance with regards to the articles if for nothing else it’s hard to find people who think we are all run at the minute. A lot of my comments on here recently have been negative towards the club, I haven’t wanted to be negative, but I’ve just commented how I really feel and how I see things. I’m sure that you are the same and would much prefer to be more positive it’s just hard to be that at the minute.
As always, the voice of reason.
I remember a long time ago creating a banner for another site that was ‘squashed’ by the club. Sites like WOAP, and SPECIFICALLY WOAP are vital to provide measured opinion (and opinion is the key word) whatever that may be.
Keep writing, keep reporting, keep doing exactly what you do, and ignore the trolls.
I’ll be (reluctantly) renewing my ticket for next year, but reading and enjoying WOAP is something I’ll never get tired of doing.
You’re doing a great job. Don’t loose any sleep.
The WOAP is the only city commentary I bother to read. Most are too reactionary and/or annoying whereas this is more balanced. Your endless hard work is greatly appreciated. I love the podcasts too.
Personally I’m in the ‘meh’ category of a city fan. Rupp keeps things ticking along and is a responsible owner. However it can feel that there is no ambition to move the club forward. Paying so much rent for VP means we’re are always paying catchup, add that to cheap STs and you can see why we endlessly struggle. What do we do?? Risk it and be a Reading/Scunthorpe or risk it and be like Brentford/Bournemouth. One thing for certain is that I don’t know how we move forward with Rupp in charge
Rupp puts nothing in. Sparks said on Radio Leeds last year Rupp hasn’t spent anything since Decmeber 2020.
At the moment, the fans mostly are keeping the club sustainable. We’re also protecting the asset of an extremely wealthy owner who has no interest in the club or how it performs on the pitch.
Don’t worry Jason, you’re not the only one, I agree that we’ve ‘crossed the rubicon’ (so to speak) when it comes to faith in the senior management/ownership of the club. The WY Sport ‘fans forum’ [sic] will grow in it’s infamy and significance as time passes. The lack of strategy, coherence, even basic competence was on display. I don’t think there is any coming back from that, and thank you to Jamie Raynor for giving Sparks/Gent/Rupp (in absentia) the platform and space to expose their own failings.
And for what it is worth – which isn’t much – I think the Width of a Post is and has always been a very fair and thoughtful fan site. All contributors take time to think through their views and analysis, and weigh up all considerations and points of view, and often give the club hierarchy the benefit of the doubt even when it would be easier and more logical not to. This isn’t a reactionary place, and even when I disagree with opinions that are expressed here, I always know that they are made in good faith and because of a love of the club.
It’s easy to support when things are running smoothly, you go with the flow. But it’s harder when times are harder. There will naturally be different views on how to address problems because you have problems! If they were easy to fix then they’d be fixed already. But you are not a ‘good supporter’ if you give blind and unwaivering support when it goes against what is objective and obvious – you’re just lieing to yourself. We have had decade of gradual declined interspersed with false dawns.
It is also ok to change your mind. I have posted on here before about I felt that the off-the-field stuff is overemphasised (“It’s not Sparks who makes the subs or takes the training.”) But I’ll hold my hands up and say that I was wrong and I’ve changed my mind; the stasis, the inconsistency, the lack of backbone, it all starts from the top. Listen to anyone who knows about leadership talk about it and you’ll see all the qualities that are discussed are absent here. We can cycle through managers and players as much as we want, hoping to get lucky (which appears to be ‘the plan’) but I now believe we are going nowhere until the club is entrusted to people who care for it, want to drive it forward, and are good enough to execute a plan to try do that.
Well done Jason. I thought half way through the article that you were about to announce you were leaving. Please don’t. You are WOAP. You have my 100% support. WOAP is a debating forum and one that, led by you, provides interesting, challenging, constructive (mostly !) argument and discussion. I would be nearly as sad to see WOAP disappear as I would BCFC. From where I sit WOAP is continuing to develop in stature, whereas BCFC is indeed going through a tough time. WOAP must continue as a pressure group for better times. Keep up the good work.
I too have lost faith in the current incumbents at VP, last nights ‘forum’ on radio Leeds was he last straw. This club is slowing edging to the brink.
You nearly always have your finger on the pulse, the vast majority of the time your comments and thoughts articulate exactly how I’m thinking.
Please keep up your excellent work, more power to your elbow.
Jason, I have read your sites since The Boy From Brazil times and I really appreciate all the effort that you and your ‘team’ put in to writing so many articles.
I like many other supporters feel really let down by the people at the top of the club – we have not heard anything constructive form them for a long time.
The recent talks with the local press and our CEO in my opinion have only made things worse in that he has not discussed the future direction of the club but seems happy for it to plod along and survive.
We need a Geoffrey Richmond to come in and tell us where he would like the club to be in 1, 2, 5 & 10 years time – and perhaps more importantly HOW we can get there.
We need a style of football that we are going to stick to over the course of this time, so that we don’t go through the whole debacle of changing the whole squad when we have a change of manager.
If the club communicated more effectively with the supporters about a ‘plan’ then perhaps we would be less inclined to think of doing other things on a Saturday afternoon.
Where I sit on the KOP – lower tier – there are quite a number of people around me who are rightly talking about doing other activities on an afternoon rather than coming to Valley Parade.
I am currently in the renew my season ticket than leave, BUT only just!!!
I also want WOAP to carry on – you are the only point of contact that keeps the hope / dream alive.
Up The Bantams
Berlin Bantam uses a very apt phrase…bumbling along. Sums up the UK to a tee and many of our institutions and organisations including bcfc. Leadership starts at the top, in our case with the chairman. Other than sustainability there is no strategy or vision for the club. The club needs to sell optimism and hope if it wishes season ticket holders to renew. This was sadly lacking last night.
Assuming the downward trajectory continues what action will the chairman take? I draw a parallel with a shareholder watching the share price fall every day. At some point you either sell and take the loss on the chin or invest more if you believe in the potential of the company.
As a season ticket holder living in the Midlands I have not been to one game this season and will not renew. I am 70 and have supported the club since the late 50s. It is so sad to see what is happening to a club with so much obvious potential. I fear next year many will vote with their feet and where will the sustainability model take us then?
Very fairly written and balanced. What kind of organisation thrives through not accepting feedback? Keep on delivering your insightful views, I for one value them greatly.
Ultimately with a platform like this and the environment it’s in (a perennially underperforming football club) you’ll never win.
For me WOAP has been a fair-minded place, critical when things have required that criticism but not sticking the boot in and being inflammatory at every possible moment – we don’t need Arsenal Fan TV style hot-takery.
For people to take such umbrage with you Jason is ridiculous, you are one person who has never shied away from offering others their own take on here, I can only commend you for the 10+ years this place has had.
To me the phone-in last night showed an indifference to the failings of this season, I just don’t see how anyone can get any semblance of positivity from it, no amount of club correspondence or snide messages to you (or anyone else who writes about the club) will change that.
Great article 👍Last night’s forum was deluded at best last person out turn the lights off SHAMBLES
Like NH, I’m a season ticket holder in the Midlands, in my 70s and a supporter since the 1950s but I have seen City around ten times this season. First of all , like just about everyone else this am, I totally support WOAP, Jason and team and we certainly don’t want to lose you! Your views are always balanced, informed and well worth reading.
Yes, things are depressing right now … going to the same old League 2 grounds season after season, and now almost certainly next season. However, I can assure younger fans that things have been much worse (eg in 1965/66 when we lost 7-1 twice in a row and ended up 23rd but re-elected, as well as the years in early 2000s when we were in administration).
I am just not close enough to the club to know exactly what goes on behind the scenes. As for the owner, we should be careful what we wish for. Rupp saved us from the ‘car-crash’ that was Rahic who duped him, and has kept us afloat since when he might well have just walked away. He delegates to the CEO and doesn’t interfere with the football side. There are plenty of disastrous new owners who crash their clubs (think Scunthorpe). The only way he will sell is almost certainly after some success. ‘Rupp out’ takes us nowhere.
As for the CEO I find it difficult to comment, except to say that changing managers every season takes us nowhere. Phil Parkinson was given backing after a difficult first season and that paid dividends. I do, however wonder, what help the board is. The website makes no mention of who is on it and we never hear about it (eg role in selecting new managers?). Theoretically, it should be helping the CEO plan the development of the club and team, but its apparent non-existence adds greater pressure on the CEO.
Finally, you have to be an optimist to support City and a Wembley appearance in the EFL Trophy out of the blue might just give all of us a lift as well as money to the club. We need to beat Wycombe!
We don’t have a board.
We have an owner and a CEO!
The guys who were a board or were associate directors still inhabit the board room on matchdays.
RS never goes anywhere near. And if my information is correct RS eould ease these guys out.
He does not like organised groups and people within the club who have been here longer than him and know more.
They are proper supporters over many years with experience and skill sets that have been of benefit in the past and could be in the future.
I know they can’t say it for themselves but they collectively are an.important and vital part of the club.
I salute them for what they have done for the club.
Maybe it’s time though for at least one of them to.keep fellow fans aware of what’s going on.
As I have said before,. RS and Co were.the ones of got rid of the Junior Bantams. This was a voluntary.group who held sessions in the One in.A Million for young Bantams. They did all kinds of activities and players came up to.meet them.before the game. They had school holiday training sessions with the team, went to the pantomime with the players etc etc.
Basically.they were hooked as bantams for life.
Future season ticket holders!!!
300 of them.in 2017.
Hard work to.build up them.numbers but just dispensed.
Whst an.opportunity.
So now the club controls the SB (RS said it last night) as a sop towards filling the clubs commitment to communication with the fans.
Only when.pinned in a corner is a ‘fans forum’ and a T&A interview arranged. But they have done more harm than 300 supporters in.a “live’ forum would achieve in the clubs ‘transparency ‘.
Yes it would have to.be controlled (even.in the old days sometimes some questions were not answered by the panel
But after those forums of.old, held in the McCall.suite had an added value (not only bar sales!) as often those on the top table mingled and chatted to fans. This created a “connect’ and the fans thought they were involved and valued.
Remember Mark.Lawn.serving fans burgers at a club.pre season.open day???
So yes I yearn for the days of the ‘pieces of silver’ thrown.on.the top table
I hark back to Darren’s questions to GR.
And as for the late Granville Dobsons superb questions and observations as a psychologist ( ” I have been watching your.body language Mr Richmond”?)
Priceless.
But the connect between.fans and club was there.
I didn’t renew this season, none of the people in our small group did. We had just become so disillusioned with how the club played on the pitch and was being run behind the scenes. Call me a plastic, I’ve done my time watching City over the years. I’ve also watched the odd game this season on iFollow and nothing I’ve witnessed has made me regret my decision. Really hoped G.A. would succeed but looks like the constraints at the club will ultimately be his downfall. Again, another unsuccessful tenure at the mighty Bradford City. I had noticed the shift in tone at WOAP towers this season, and it does seem like quite a few fans will be joining me on the sidelines next season and not renewing season tickets. The “fans” forum last night will be the nail in the coffin for quite a few I suspect.
Looking forward to the next podcast, keep up the good work, the majority of Bradford fans appreciate it.
Jason, great read. Don’t let the minority get to you !
Dear writers WOAP
i am 100% behind all your last 8 articles about BCFC
We have had wars to let people have democratic debates on everything as long as it is within the laws of the land.
Your articles are great on here and so to are the debates through the posts about BCFC
If any WOAKISH / WIMPISH fans dont like this way of debate.
DONT COME ON THIS SITE end of
And if get upset easy dont go to watch BCFC.
I WISH WE COULD GO BACK 25 YEARS BEFORE ALL THESE WOAKS AND WAYS WERE FORMED!!
Justjkeep up the great debates
Can you translate to English please?
If you dont know what a WOAK IS im suprised look it up
Its some one who is brainwashed to be against free speech of any sort which the liberal elite and big buisness EG football clubs owners do not want to hear been said.
For 30 years the WOAKS AND ELITE of this country have slowly put into the British peoples mind set.
The width of the post to Bradford citys Owners are totally a danger to them-
As stated freedom of speech is now in danger of been stamped out by the WOAKS
THAT IS IN PLAIN ENGLISH CHRISTIAN
Are you aware of Mr Slingsby’s nickname?
if you support democratic debate on the site, why are you telling people you don’t agree with not to come on it?
I assume you mean Woke, not Woak.
I’ve spent a lifetime watching City and was a regular contributor to this forum. I don’t go any more and have no intention of renewing my season ticket.
Invariably, Jason, your articles hit the nail on the head. How can anybody put an optimistic spin on the shambles that is Brafford City?
WOAP is now my only connection with the club. I used to enjoy adding my “tuppeneth”, but my absence from matches, no longer enables me to make any meaningful contribution from a performance perspective.
Our controversial poster from Canada, used to get pilloried on here and the T&A website for his criticism of Ryan Sparks. Seems he was right all along.
Suggestion: WOAP WOKE WIMP T-shirts
I agree – it does feel that we are in a holding pattern – small glimmers of light followed by extended periods of mediocrity. I was disappointed that our owners aim was not to go bust. As a mostly silent reader of these fan sites I do think, however, that we are a fickle fan base. When everything is going well we are on top of the world and right behind the team, but it does not take much for the negativity to start coming through and this must impact on the players.
I see players that used to have such a strong relationship with the fans that no longer seem that engaged – Andy Cook seems to barley even celebrate his goals any more – unlike last season where you could barely hold him back from jumping into the crowd. We have to remember that these are human beings playing at league 2 level – not superstars on millions of pounds a year. If we turn on the team as quickly as I have seen in the past, is it any wonder that they are not showing as much passion as before?
Following the amazing spell in performance we had before Christmas, it was a couple of draws before the criticism of the team came through again and we are now on a dire run of form again. Did the team become poor overnight – or are they being impacted by the critisism they are receiving which has an impact on their overall performance or commitment to the club.
Put yourself in their position – how would you react to some of what has been leveled at players during our runs of poor form.
The running of the club – I agree, this needs looking at. But if we want the team to be successful we have play our part and get behind and back the team. I
Keep going Jason… always a good read and look forward to it.
Your website is my only source of City opinion. I wish you had some good news to write about again – I’m sure it will come again, not sure when!!
Please add a donation link to the website to recover your costs, no reason for you to be out of pocket.
I’ve been going to City since the mid 70s, sometimes we’re good but mostly we are terrible, the point for me has always been the social aspect, from a kid looking forward to a packet of prawn cocktail Seabrooks in the pub with my dad and his mates pre game to debating the career trajectory of Pointon with my brothers all these years later, Is he Des Hamilton or McCall or Danny Devine….
Just musing on last nights ‘forum’.
If as RS said his brief was to avoid bankruptcy and relegation then the inference is that Rupp would not have bailed out his ‘investment’ if either scenario had happened.
Frightening.
It enforces that ‘sustainability’ is the only thing keeping us alive.
Just listened to Ryan Sparks on Radio Leeds sounds, is Bradford City Sustainable.
The top & bottom of it is that they have to run as a business to stay in the black with a decent budget to compete and we got to the playoffs last year and close to Wembley in the EFL trophy to give something back to the fans, hopefully twice this year, I think he knows Harry Potter, as he sells scarves for him at the quidditch events 🤣😂🤣😂
I get we have to keep head above water but we have gone backwards from the end of last season, Stockport missed out on promotion from penalties last season 🤔 Top of the league this season so far has not effected their progression.
You and the other writers at WOAP do a great job in trying to present a fair and balanced view of the club. I am sure the silent majority of readers appreciate your efforts. Don’t let negative criticism from a small minority get you down.
As a City fan who has been leaving in the US for over 25 years, I take a more dispassionate view of the club than when I was living in Bradford. Stefan Rupp should get credit for running the club in a financially responsible way. Our ongoing losses are small, compared to clubs like Stockport or Colchester where the owners have put in millions.
However that means we have to have a stronger, more consistent approach off the pitch to have a better chance of succeeding on the pitch. The constant changing of managers, each with their own style of play, means mediocrity is almost inevitable. Our player recruitment has been haphazard for years. We have a good academy for this level, but most of our recent managers seem unwilling to develop them in the first team.
The lack of a strategic plan, and communication around it, is striking. Any potential new owner will want to own both the football club and the stadium. The lease at VP runs out in 2028, which is not that far off. So, what’s the club’s plan on this?
Keep up the good work
Please keep up the good work Jason, and I don’t think you should feel the need to apologise, as you normally convey the mood of the majority of fans perfectly like you do once again here.
Unfortunately, in today’s society there a number of people who are easily offended, and can’t take any criticism, but if you are sitting in 18th place in League 2, you’ve got to expect at least some form of criticism, as the position we find ourselves in is just not acceptable. What I also tend to find is that these people who accuse others of being negative, just attempt to shut the conversation down, and don’t usually come back with the reasons why they believe the criticism is unjustified, as it would no doubt provoke an interesting debate.
I also don’t subscribe to this argument that as a considerable part of our time has been spent in the bottom division it is roughly our level, as ever since promotion in 1985 through to the Premiership years the club has steadily grown, and I think our natural level should be a bit of a “yo yo” club between League 1 and the Championship like say a Barnsley.
You therefore look at reasons why we are underachieving. Is it the lack of football experience in senior positions, is it Rupp’s lack of interest and that we will always associate him with Rahic so don’t feel we can move on from the latter, or do the players struggle to deal with the increased pressure and expectation that having big crowds bring due to the cheap season tickets. It’s probably a combination of all 3 and other factors besides, but if you are 18th in League 2 then you have got to be prepared for criticism and the fans to start asking questions. If you just ignore the concerns and attempt to sweep them under the carpet, then we are always going to struggle to move forward as a club.
Great article Jason ,100% support what WOAP stands for. always a considered view with the best interests of City at its heart.
Please set up a Patreon or Go Fund Me account etc as we need voices like WOAP to continue.
Firstly l go on the record, as giving my support to WOAP and the quality of the articles that are produced. Balanced, objective and avoiding some of the unpleasant invective other supporters use. The importance of WOAP, in these difficult times, should not be underestimated.
The club may well be sustainable with the huge amount of support at present. However the primary product, the football team, is failing. If things continue as they are, then l expect to see a dramatic downturn in the number of Season Tickets sold for next season. The drop in income will then impact on the sustainability model, and the gradual decline, could see a significant collapse.
City has no divine ‘right’ to be doing better, rather it should be achieved through smart use of the funds available. If we are to believe the story that the club has a very high budget, then within reason the resources available should propel the club to a degree of success, certainly not languishing just above the relegation zone.
The current performance of the team, is often soul destroying. The style of play and the failure to win at home (four out of fourteen games), is utterly grim!
Keep up the good work Jason and team.
Always enjoy the balanced views from you Jason, no need to apologise for your opinions.
I appreciate the majority of responses to this, and it seems clear to me that many of us are on the brink of losing interest.
The worry is not knowing how we can make any impact that will affect how anything will change. In my opinion we need new leadership, and while I appreciate what Rupp did to bail us out after Rahic left, I feel the sooner he leaves the better.
I’m guilty of moaning on social media and honestly don’t know what good it does anyone.
I suppose what I want to know is how do we collectively make the point in a way that will make any difference.
I’m sure you’ve developed a thick skin over the years Jason, and whilst the reactions of those who don’t agree with your slant on matters may be unpleasant at times, it’s just so much noise. I view it the same way as those who berate the BBC, some for being biased towards the left and others for being exactly the opposite. If you’re getting criticism from all quarters then it’s because you’re voicing balanced, measured opinions on the state of play. And it certainly isn’t down to the club hierarchy to try and silence you. If they want WOAP to be more positive about the club, there’s an obvious solution – roll their sleeves up, put a coherent plan together, and get it performing both on and off the field again.
I’m prepared to get slated for this but i really hope all the fans who feel it relevant to state they’re debating whether to renew their season ticket next season actually don’t bother and go follow another team.
Now i’m not a happy clapper and i 100% recognise that Mr Sparks has made mistakes but i don’t think for one minute that this club doesn’t have ambition and direction. What fans really need is some realisation that we are in the 4th division and there’s a lot of good teams in this division and because we have a large fan base and big stadium it gives us no given right to be any better than barrow or the other 22 teams in this league.
People ask where’s the plan, Well if we go back to the start of the season a decision was made by Mark Hughes to play 3 at the back. An ambitious plan but a plan to try follow up play off heart ache and I sat at Valley parade for the first few homes games this season and the abuse the players got for playing out from the back was horrific. We never gave it a chance and Instead it felt like there was an exepectency from supporters that playing 3 at the back wasn’t the Bradford City’s style. The whole mood around Valley Parade was negative and it came from a loud minority of supporters. I felt for them players who were been abused for following a PLAN. The club had a plan and it was doomed within the first month of the season thanks to the negativity created amongst supporters about our playing style.
I sat that there that day embarrased, And it further aided the argument from opposition teams who have stated in the past they come to Valley Parade with the intention of frustrating the home team because they know the fans will jump on their back and all of a sudden players become nervous and Valley Parade is a fortress for all the wrong reasons and it plays into the opposition hands.
So the club had a plan and as supporters did we get on board with it? And lone behold after sacking Mark Hughes what formation do we play with now? 3 at the back.
I’m also sick and tired of hearing supporters demanding a forum with Rupp. What are fans expecting him to say? As Mr Sparks said quite clearly every club has it’s price, The problem you have is there’s no money to be made in football until you make it to the premier league and the reality is there isn’t the buyers out there willing to pump millions into football clubs. If there were we wouldn’t see the likes of Derby, Reading, Bolton, Wigan Southend, Bury, Macclesfield struggling financially in recent seasons. I’d actually love Rupp to come out and actually talk about ambition and at the same time raise the season ticket prices to those similar to other league 2 clubs.
Imagine an extra £150 on season tickets, That would equate to approximately £1.5 million extra in the playing budget but you know what would happen don’t you…… Supporters would moan about paying that price to watch us play teams like Crawley and Harrogate and all of a sudden the negativity starts again.
I’ve seen people slate Ryam Sparks for his poor managerial decisions. However I seem to remember no complaints when appointing Mark Hughes or Derek Adams. Remember the winning run under Trueman and Sellars, Message boards were packed begging Sparks to give them the job full time and Sparks obliged. But when it goes wrong there’s only one person who seems to get targeted yet very few complained with his initial decision.
A lot of work has been done off the pitch which supporters probably don’t see with regards to the future of Bradford City. We have a flourishing youth academy but the problem with youth is it takes years to see the end product. It’s not something that can be done overnight but so much credit has to be given to the club for the progression made and the income received from selling prospects to bigger teams. In previous years out youth academy has been an embarrasment but now it’s something to be rightly proud off. So when people slate direction maybe open your mind and you’ll see improvement.
100% I agree we are better than our league position, And i really hope all this negativity and writing the team off can be used to spurr them on. Despite all the negativity we are only 7 points off the play offs. We were more than that when we last got promotion out of this league so it can be done.
I’m not a happy clapper and recognise improvement is required but actually putting things into perspective improvements have been made despite it feeling like there hasn’t. We could quite easily be like Reading where their owner fails to pay their wages on time or like Bury and find ourselves having to restart again at the very bottom of the football pyramid. If fans don’t want to be a part of the journey thats fine but i’m city til i die and the good times will come again.
Success doesn’t come overnight, It takes years to build. Stockport, Wrexham and Notts County have all experienced painful times like ourselves and their plans haven’t worked overnight. It’s taken them years to get where they are and maybe supporters need to recognise that aswell.
City til i die!!
Agree 100%
I echo the messages of support above Jason. Your articles are good insight, I value the judgement. As you say, the views on club, direction etc are honestly your own- and as others say, if you’re taking pot shots from both ends, that suggests your position is a balanced one!
So please keep doing what you’re doing with I think majority support. And I’d contribute to a patreon style giving option. The quality is good enough.
Jason,
I agree with many many of your comments. Your article was well balanced and thoughtful.
But it did not address the most important questions that we as fans should be asking ourselves
– Where do we go from here?
– What are we hoping to achieve?
– What is the plan for getting there?
Without addressing these fundamental issue, I fear negative articles can only exasperate an already dire situation. Things can get much worse.
There are problems in the club’s hierarchy, Ryan’s time may be up but, without a buyer paying a price that meets his valuation, Rahic will not sell.
As fans, I think that we have an obligation to try improve things. Starting with our contribution at games. The same fans who were booing for passing around at the back now do the same for long ball football. This impact on player performance of this negativity is one of the causes of our poor home form.
We criticise players and managers far too easily, for instance – Hughes was our most succesful manager for many seasons, yet our own fans were singing ‘Sacked in the morning’. Booing players with a City shirt on is a no no.
As supporters we are not impotent. We should look to ourselves and do what we can to stop this spiral to non-league becoming a reality. Starting with being more supportive at matches (especially at home games!).
Whole heartedly agree with your views regarding WOAP position with City. I’ve read your posts from the Boys From Brazil to date. The T & A should act as a voice of the supporters but they would lose access should they be over critical. We do not get a truly un biased assessment from them. Your articles and pod casts remedies this lack of post match reflection bias problem. I think it was good regarding your Rahic era WOAP, that you got his attention. It went along way to get Rupp to sack him.
I am am worried about where this club OUR club is going. Clearly, we will do nothing this season. The anxiety I have is that like any club we rely on supporters to keep this club going. If (what seems to be the case), many supporters are not going to renew their season ticket, then the club will be at risk. Last thing I want is to see City go out of existence and ending up like our neighbours BPA. That must be avoided at all costs. Neither should we as supporters be held to ransom based on this scenario. We have a voice and it should be heard. The forum last night did nothing the change my mind regarding the way the club is being run. We expect better. Sitting on our hands and putting up with what’s going on at VP is not the answer either. Something has to change and I feel all of us that love our club are the only arbiters of change. We cannot go on thinking “it’s going to be alright next season”. We need change and it must happen soon.
Another great article that hits a key point. The two sides of the argument around Bradford City seem totally unwilling to listen to, or accept, the other’s point of view.
We all have different opinions, and I think you’re right in thinking that yours generally reflects that of many City fans, at the moment.
I look forward to reading more of your articles in the future 👍
Put simply, I’m voting with my feet – I won’t be renewing season ticket. Had enough of traipsing across Yorkshire to go home miserable and ruin the day. Was a struggle to renew this season, I reckon I’ve probably been to half the home games so far. I doubt I’ll muster up the motivation to go to many more.
At least my dad/sister will have more space for their stuff.
Hi Jason & regular contributors
Just remember a variation of an old saying…you can please some of the people some of the time…
I personally have often found WOAP to be the only sober voice in a loud pi**ed up social media room.
People are of course free to get their bcfc info fix from a variety of sources, as I do, equally people are free to choose which of these to revisit & those to discard.
From its inception & historically with bfb, WOAP has always encouraged honest debate & discussion amongst us city fans which have often in turn led to more considered & reasoned opinion about issues concerning all things bcfc.
The match reports are essential reading material, I’ve frequently been entertained over the years with articles which have covered numerous subjects and not just the football itself, sometimes humorous, always sincere.
In all that time, you/me/I have always been free to agree or disagree with any view expressed or sentiment that’s inferred.
Thats often the basis by which we determine whether a country is indeed truly free or democratic…not a bad ethos for a website run wholly by volunteers with no remuneration who just so happen to love with a passion, the same football club as you & I…
Cheers & thanks.
I concur with the other sentiments already posted on here. Watching City at the moment is purgatory. But let’s be honest, it’s been that way for a number of seasons unfortunately. WOAP is the only place that tells it how it is, however painful that maybe. Keep up the good work. 👍
First of all, Jason, please carry on with WOAP. I do not always agree with every word in this site, but it provokes some great discussions and the articles are always well considered and balanced (unlike my comments at times!). I live 200 miles from the ground but am a season ticket holder and get to as many matches as I can.
I cannot remember feeling as dispirited as this in the 55 years I have followed the club, and that has covered some pretty hairy times.
Last night’s Radio debacle was the last straw. Formulaic answers with no real insight. Confusion amongst the top team as to what the real strategy is and a clear inability to articulate the key areas that need to be developed to make the club a success. Being sustainable is not a vision, or a strategy. Not getting relegated is not a compelling wish that will motivate anyone to get behind the club.
Richmond had his faults, but in the days before he went too far, he did get the fans, the community, the employees, the players and the media to collect around a really motivating vision. As importantly, his communication was first class and he made it clear what he was putting in place to make it happen. It was a bumpy ride at times, but we all kept on board because we believed his vision and his ability to deliver on it. Of course, he went too far once he had delivered it,but I don’t think anyone could criticise how he got us to the top division.
Contrast this with Rupp and Sparks.
In any other business after finishing up in a worst place than when he started a number of years ago, Sparks would be history. The definition of madness is to continue to do the same things and expect a different outcome.
We are fast becoming the laughing stock of football and a once proud club has chipped away at its best supporters confidence in it.
Change or die. It’s as simple as that.
Until supporters vote with their feet, Sparks will not resign. That was apparent from the PR disaster on Radio Leeds last night. He is truly delusional with his propaganda that everything is going well. Whilst his mate Gent thought the majority of his 35 signings have been good. Both beggars belief and if they worked in any other industry as CEO and his number 2 they would be sacked for gross incompetence. They both take the fans as fools. Rupp has no interest in BCFC which is apparent from the self sufficiency requirement. To a point I don’t blame him as Sparks and Gent have wasted money on substandard players and compensation for numerous managers. Something has to change.
Great article Jason and a large degree of raw honesty to write it.
For what its worth I thought last night was a bit of a car crash for those running the club, and in particular Sparks and Gent – came across as totally uninspiring and almost amateurish in their involvement.
A very sad state of affairs
I’ve supported City for over 50 years. I never read WOAP and think you are getting it wrong. It’s the patronising arrogance of the current leadership of the club that feels wrong. Please don’t tell us how great things are, because we can all plainly see the confusion on and off the pitch. Like most of your readers I’ll still be there supporting the club when the current leadership isn’t.
But you might not have a club to support (62 years supporting g and counting!)
Jason.
This is the best website in relation to all things Bradford City. I have been, like many others, reading your (and other contributors) work since Boy from Brazil.
The articles on this site are the opinions of the authors and we as readers can chose to engage and express our opinion on the article in the comments section or not. Just because someone has a different opinion or does not like what the website publishes is no reason at all to call for this site to be closed down or encourage you to call it a day. That is just insanity!
Jason, I cannot express how important WOAP is to Bradford City fans especially those of us abroad. You have to keep going. You are doing a fantastic job and this is the first place I turn to for Bradford City information. We the fans need this site.
Re: season ticket renewals…. my two pennies worth….
Even though I’ve been abroad for 10 years plus, I still renew my season ticket for the same seat I’ve had in the Sunwin stand since 1996. When my son was born I got him a season ticket next to mine and have also renewed his season ticket every year. We only get to a handful of games at VP and a few away games depending on the fixtures and mainly watch City through our iFollow subscription.
I will renew our tickets next season and our iFollow subscription out of a sense of loyalty to the club rather than an endorsement of what is happening at a senior (and managerial) level at our club. However, if the prices increase then I would drop both season tickets and possibly the iFollow subscription. I won’t pay any more to watch this shambles and getting up in the early hours of the morning on a Saturday to watch City on iFollow isn’t much fun either and could happily drop that as well.
I’m okay with Rupp being an absent owner. I’d rather have that than a “I know football” type of charlatan. I think the problem we have is closer to home at CEO level. The last straw(s) for me was the T&A love fest ‘interviews’ and the ‘fans forum’ debacle the other night. Any benefit of the doubt I had given Sparks and Gent them were blown away. I hate to say it but the jaw-dropping incompetence of these two were clear to see and they are not ‘fit for purpose’ and both should go.
My dream job would be to be an astronaut. Just because it is, doesn’t mean to say I should get it or become one!
I need to revise my earlier comment as it could be read both ways. After 50 years of following City, WOAP always reflects how I feel every week. The club is a mess, on and off the pitch, and there is a disconnect between the arrogant hierarchy of the club and the supporters. We’ll be here when the Chairman and CEO are gone. I’ll never boo our team, leave early and I’ll renew my season ticket next year, but my level of dismay with the standard of our football and the awful management of our club rises every week.
Thanks Jason love the website and everything about it. You are always at the games I go to and your comments reflect what I saw. When I don’t go I can rely on you for a fair assessment. Love your passion for everything claret and amber. Keep up the goodwork
I might be the longest serving ( suffering ) City supporter. Believe me, we have been in far worse states than we are in now.
You do a good and fair job,Jason. There is no doubt about that
I offer no solution but will simply say that many supporters believe that there is a buyer waiting in the wings and Rupp won’t sell to him
I wish there were but I bet there isn’t.
Meanwhile we can either live in hope , keep the faith or give in. The choice is individual to us all.
Remember Luton Town.