Ron Gourlay reveals EFL Zoom call on issue ‘hurting’ West Brom
West Brom chief executive Ron Gourlay has discussed efforts the club has made to combat fixture disruption from TV companies.
The Baggies have had nine matches moved from Saturdays so they can be televised, which plays havoc with fans’ travel plans, and as a result the club have told the league they “don’t want to be on TV”.
Gourlay said via the Birmingham Mail: “I know the challenges, but these Friday night games, these Monday night games, are hurting the football club.
“We had a Zoom call with the EFL and we spoke in front of the other 23 teams and some of them couldn’t understand why we didn’t want the games, but we did ask not be included in the next round of fixtures and for more thought to be given to our supporters going forward.
“Unfortunately the people that suffer there are our fans, especially our younger fans and that is an area we are really targeting – we want to bring more youngster fans into the stadium and into the football club in general.
“All we can do express our concerns and say – when it comes to next games being picked – that we don’t want to be on TV.”
Afterthought
Despite the fact that ultimately it is the fans who fund football, either directly or through the TV subscriptions they pay for that drive the broadcast deals, they are often the last people considered.
The logistics of getting to and from a football match late in the evening are rarely considered when matches are switched to week days.
It makes it harder for children to attend as it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get home before the early hours.
The club is probably a victim of its own success over the years, as they are clearly one of the bigger draws in the Championship thanks to their recent Premier League status.
And fans who do not have tickets do of course benefit from the fact that games are easily watchable on television.
But the cost to the supporters who want to go the Hawthorns, and follow the team on the road, is huge if they keep having to change plans to Friday and Monday nights.
In other West Brom news, more details have been shared by Steve Madeley on the chief exec’s plans for a football board.
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