Football World: Fans demand to be heard

Protest seems to be the words on the lips of two sets of fans in the Premier League this week as they have grown tired of their club’s plight.

Everton and Blackburn supporters are not known for their militancy, in fact protest goes against Blackburn’s sleepy Lancashire town image. Evertonians meanwhile usually see protests as ‘something Liverpool fans do’.

However, both sets of fans have been driven to despair by their current owners, who could not be more different.

Everton supporters are angry with the club’s apparent stagnation under Bill Kenwright, the theatre impresario whose love for the club is clear, but does not possess the wealth or ability to attract the fund require to support the club in the transfer market.

Toffees boss David Moyes has not had a net spend on players in three years and this summer raked in more than £20million in sales while only bringing in two loan players.

Supporters clubs are planning a protest on before Saturday’s game with Aston Villa to voice their demands for change.

A quick look into nearby Lancashire though spells a warning about what might happen if the club gets sold. Indian poultry farmers Venkys took control over Rovers almost 12 months ago. In a controversial early move they sacked Sam Allardyce and replaced him with the inexperienced Steve Kean. Lavish statements about signing Ronaldinho and Raul have been made since, but  the owners have largely failed to live up to their promises, and three defeats in a row this season has left the club bottom of the table and top of the relegation betting stakes.

Rovers supporters – like their Everton counterparts – now plan to protest ahead of their next home game.

But the questions is – what will it achieve? After all football fans being football fans, they will voice their discontent before paying their money and heading into the ground to support the team or pay their subscriptions to watch live football online. This fierce loyalty despite of anything is why boards have taken advantage of fans for decades.

The only benefit protest may bring is pressure courtesy of increased media coverage. That coverage though could portray the team as a side in crisis, lower confidence and actually make things worse.

Blackburn and Everton fans are probably aware of this, but they have been pushed to a point where they feel doing nothing would be just as dangerous.