Deakin Calls For Unity

Perry Deakin has called on all Vale fans to unite behind the team regardless of any personal feelings about off the field matters. Obviously, Mr Deakin has a short term memory problem, as I`m pretty sure that shareholders made their (legally binding) views clear at the EGM. If official season ticket sales are to be believed, then the take up appears better then may have been first expected, given the level of resentment towards the current regime. The figure is still well down on last season`s sales, however, but the exact ‘damage` caused will only become clear as the season progresses. Surely, the club must be worried that intelligent, rational, long standing supporters aren`t renewing their season tickets? These people have been and are the life blood of the club, hardly the anger filled teen trouble making web brigade that the club have been so keen to portray as those in favour of change. Speaking personally, and from experience talking with those in a similar position, there is a great deal of anger that, we, as supporters have been put in this position. I can`t think of a single person who would gladly chose to deprive the Vale of much needed income, but to stand by and watch the club teeter from one disaster to another is both painful and unnecessary. For those who don`t live locally, the matches also represent a chance to catch up with family and friends and provide a degree of escapism. Do the board even care is a question I ask myself? Has anyone received a phone call/email/letter asking why they haven`t renewed? Maybe the club feel they can offset any financial loss and following a couple of good wins people will cave in. I`m not so sure.

I think everyone is sick and tired of the politics. This is not what I signed up for as a five year old anyway. What is certain, to quote Vale fan Tony Boulton, is that “I am not sure when it will all end, but there will be tears on the way”. Whose tears remains to be seen.