Dwindling Home Support?
 

have notice support has reduced dramatically last couple of home games, have also noticed on the clayton end a lot less of our younger supporters,:eek: these kids to me are vital to progression, its been mentioned that the atmosphere is not what it was, n i agree up to a point,since the flags/banners ban, my opinion is the great atmopsphere created by the Ultras was what the attraction was to these future ultras, whatever the rights n wrongs of this insane ban, needs to be rectified by the club, or may loose these kids forever, this is just my own thoughts, what do you think about this problem?:confused: end of the day us owd farts miss em,:eek:

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

IMHO, I think that you have a valid point Casy, however I also believe that fans are sick to death of the ongoing O'Neil/Whalley saga..............I know I am!!

Ive lost count of the times someone has said to me that as long as EW remains and Don continues to lie etc then they wouldnt set foot in the Crown.

The Ultras have been offered the chance to have the flags fireproofed at the CLUBS expense, however for one reason or another they refuse to do so, which is of course their perogative, but it does seem to defeat the object somewhat.

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

Fingers crossed the return of Mr G at the end of the month, brings back a resergence in the support :)

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

the problem with the ban is twofold.

Firstly, a lot of the flags are made ad hoc to be ready for a specific game, ie the Newcastle banner. It would be impossible- impractical and expensive to have these fireproofed.

Secondly the ban has NOT been enforced by Lancashire County Council regardless of what the club say. I have an email from the Health and Safety Executive to the effect that a ban such as this could only be implemented by an employer having carried out a risk assessment to their employees.

If the Ultras back down on this then there may be no end of concessions requested. Part of the allure of the Ultras is the near the knuckleness of the antics. There are few and far between 'breaches' of the rules and regs with the exception being the standing rules. If the club want the support then they must be willing to concede ground.

As far as i can see the club have offered little in the way of assistance in the past when our fans have experienced problems, with Rochdale, Crewe and Cheltenham springing to mind. The battle of the Clayton End post Newcastle offered no investigation, statement or action. The club have made their own bed on this one and WILL reap the consequences.

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

I don't think those facts are right. Many clubs have flag bans in place, (flags over a certain size ) I know some Burnley fans had theirs confiscated at Sheffield Utd the other week.

It would appear the H&S people don't work with the licencing authorities when it comes to applying the rules.:confused:

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

lancsdave

Not all clubs have a flag ban, the ones who do generally apply a flag ban to the away supporters only.

Huge own goal by the club on this issue; O'neill, Hays and Whalley hanging around is financially the equivelent of a 10 point deduction.

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

I did say many not all :)

It doesn't help the issue when there is no national guidelines/rules.

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

I don't get to many home games, the last being Chesterfield. But the flag ban appears to be having a disastrous effect on the atmosphere at the Crown and, will, if a compromise isn't reached, do the club no favours.
From what I can glean the issue seemed to arise not because of the flags themselves but because of flares.
The club has responsibility for elf'n'safety, not LCC, but the fans have responsibilities too.
If it hasn't already happened, is it beyond the Ultras to undertake not to flout any rules with regard to combustible materials, and the club to accept this undertaking in good faith and to lift its ban on flags and banners.
It's all well and good the club hiding behind LCC and the H&SE, and the Ultras sticking to their anarcho-syndicalism, but don't we all want to get back on the same side?

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

dont forget also that christmas is on its way .. lot less money around so parents may be making the choice of keeping their money and saving for christmas ...

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

Do you think the recent poor form in the league, and the slide away from the playoffs might have something to do with it?

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

You only need to look down the end of the M65 to back up that theory.:)

At this time of the year if you're not flying at the top of the league attendances dwindle at many clubs.

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

Could it be? Football fans in 'being fickle' scandal? :)

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

I think it is hard too judge as the last home game was a paying Cup game so that will have kept a few away.

There were a couple of games where we have probably benefitted from early season form and blank weekend fixtures for the Clarets & Rovers.

I thought the last home game the noise from the Clayton End was good and no doubt helped the side on the pitch.

I have mentioned previously on the odd occasion when I have gone in the main stand and look towards the Clayton End the Flags look great and I would think can only help inspire the players as they walk out to a sea of Red & White before them.

It is a real shame that there are now no flags

I hope a way forward can be found we are too small a Club to not find a way!

Re: Dwindling Home Support?
 

I would suggest there is a way mate, i would also suggest that a certain duo are pulling against all thats right, n may destroy this great club if they cannot get own way. could be wrong, but that is my gut instinct.:(

Re: Dwindling Home Support?