Fans United?

With Championship survival secured every Saints fan is now waiting to see how things unfold off the pitch. Transfer speculation, which is normally rife at any time of the year, is a million miles away for us as there are so many factors at board level yet to be sorted. And the anxiety that we fans feel with regards to all of that is turning us into a pretty unpleasant bunch of people.

I'm not speaking about everyone, obviously, but i'm really sad at how we have turned on each other generally. Pockets of supporters wishing Lowe would return while others back the continued efforts of Crouch. Some fans rate Pearson, others don't. Northam regulars bitching about how the other three sides of the ground don't make enough noise. Some people even think that the Saints Trust is doing a good job. I could go on but there's no point listing all these petty grievances. The bottom line is we all pay good money to support a club we love and that in itself should bring us together.

Back in the not too distant past, these issues would have been genially discussed over a pint or two after a game. We'd voice our own opinions but respect other people's, knowing that they cared for the club and that was the main thing. To me this seems to be something else the club has lost of late. Maybe we're following an example set by people at a 'higher' level. Backbiting, sarcasm and one-upmanship seem to be the order of the day.

It's a chicken and egg problem. We, the fans, obviously can't get our act together until the club does. But if that's the case then who are we to criticise what's going on? This season has no doubt taken it's toll on people emotionally, but i'm not convinced we're responding in the right way. I'm not going to issue a rallying cry to get behind the team because I have no right to do so. I'm simply saying that we're a bunch of like minded people (up to a point) and that supporting the club should come first, last and always. Maybe when we're all pulling in the same direction the club will be too.