My mate Almajir wrote this article on his blog Often Partisan today. It got me thinking about the situation and wanted to make a few comments on the back of his very good blog. As normal he has written a very balanced blog with points I agree with and this blog isn’t about his blog, more the topic (if that makes sense!). The thing is, there are a number of fans who are beginning to get agitated over the fact that we may lose Hughton, and that is the key issue I want to address.
There is no loyalty in football anymore, or at least only a tiny amount – even then, it is only usually shown at lower levels of the game. If the club are approached by Albion, (or anyone else), offer the right amount – Chris WILL leave. That is a fact. We are not in the top flight, (well yet anyway), and IF we don’t go up – our manager and a lot of our players are fair game to other sides. Unfortunately that’s the way it goes.
The thing is, I don’t support Blues because they are pressing for the top flight, in the top flight, have won a cup, been in Europe or whatever position they are in the league. I support them because they are MY club. They’ve been my club since 1973/4. Since then I’ve followed them through thin and thin – and will do so even if we end up in the 2nd division.
Don’t get me wrong, I hope CH doesn’t leave, especially if we don’t get promoted – but my point is, even if he does, I will support the team in Blue being managed by the new bloke. That’s football.
Anyway, let’s focus on Wednesday first and get behind the side and let’s turn over the goal advantage that Blackpool have over us.
COME ON YOU BLUES!
Quite.
Im afraid whilst the rumours are rife, and the rumours are that CH is off to West Brom, it will affect the players. We hear absoloutly nothing from Hong Kong and it seems the fact of the matter is, Birmingham have no money, CH has nothing to work with and he is off to a club that can match his ambition. All this nonsense will have an affect on the players unless CH has assured them that he is remaining at St Andrews.
ANYONE want to speculate that Holloway will be the next manager linked to West Brom if we lose the second leg? Why would the London based media want to disrupt our squad harmony before the playoffs………
Although there is no loyalty in football, I believe that there is a man called Chris Hughton who has never jumped ship and broken a contract in his whole career.
A fair point Hawk. My article wasn’t a criticism of CH more that football is a world where people come and go.
Let’s hope you’re not doing the team talk on Wednesday !!!
Seriously, you talk about football today and conveniently omit the stifling threat of clubs going down the pan. Your article basically says its ok for failure and it’s ok for people to do a good job for a year at Blues and move on, because hey You’ve still got a club to support.
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but we’re not exactly in great financial shape right now and losing Hughton, Redmond, Burke and others if we don’t go up could spell a disastrous few years ahead for us, IF we survive them.
I would like to believe that Hughton has something good at Blues with these players and if we don’t go up then we can add a couple of players on top of what we have and give next season a real good push.
I know this isn’t an ideal world and I know have little control over what our players and managers do with their careers, but it is not ok for blues to suffer blow after blow, just because at least we exist as a club, when the repeated blows are the ones that could end us being a club.
Switch on man.
Kro
Steve I think you need to switch on mate. Re-read my blog I neither say it’s OK or otherwise. My single point is that managers and players come and go, that’s the football world. I’ll continue to follow the club whoever is in charge. I hope CH does stay, but I don’t get too emotional about these things.
In regard to the finances, NO ONE outside of the club know the real situation, I personally believe that it isn’t as bad as some are saying – however even if it’s bad, I believe it won’t be as bad as Portsmouth or Rangers.
You don’t have to say its ok to mean it. And i dont need to read this again. Your beginning claims some fans are agitated about rumours, your middle claims no loyalty in football and what happens; happens. Your conclusion is that even if we’re in League 2, you will still support us. Great, I will too, but if you’re not making a point with each of these, then what are you writing about?
The clear takeaway from this is that it’s all ok we’ll still support Blues come rain or shine. That’s nice to hear, but you’ve overlooked the very real possibility of a club like Blues being in dire straits if we end up in League 2.
We’re in financial trouble -FACT. How much is what no one knows.
Hi Steve. Ok fair enough you did read it properly, my apologies for suggesting otherwise.
However your point as a criticism I still think is unfair. The blog was addressing the Hughton rumours and not the finances. It was also a personal statement that I would follow the Blues whoever is in charge, whoever is playing and whatever the division we are in. This was to address the point that the world would end if CH left which is being suggested by some fans.
Once again, however, I make the point that I hope he stays.
I will keep my powder dry about the finances and wait until we know if we are going up or not and when the club accounts are released.
Kev