West Brom face ‘danger’ apathetic fans leave amid poor football and dismissive club attitude
Some at West Brom see the fans as “entitled” but the club is currently in “danger” of them turning away from the club says The Athletic’s Steve Madeley.
The was evident anger in the final days of the Valerien Ismael reign, but as the club’s hopes of getting anything out of this season have dried up the support can no longer muster the energy.
This culminated in the miserable 0-0 draw with Coventry (23 April) that mathematically shut the Baggies out of the playoffs, where Madeley says the fans “simply stopped caring enough to muster anything but silence and resignation”.
Writing in The Athletic Madeley says: “The danger for Albion is that many of them — worn down by a depressing Premier League season, followed by a grim, dispiriting campaign back in the Championship — will choose in the summer to withhold their money as well as their presence.
“Contrary to the perception of some within the club that supporters have become entitled and expect guaranteed Championship success, the reality is that most just want a bit of fun.
“It is a position of grave danger for any business relying on little more than traditional loyalty.
“Anger has subsided and, for many, apathy has set in. And that is perhaps the most dangerous enemy of all.”
Stand off
With the current manager and squad there doesn’t seem to be a huge well of potential excitement that could spring for next season.
And without a big summer spend it is hard to see how the club will engage an ambivalent fanbase.
To an extent fans never fully abandon their team, but Madeley is right that the powers that be cannot take that for granted.
It is a vicious circle in terms of a dull side seeing fans lose interest, which could reduce the revenue and the ability to rejuvenate.
And it is not good news to hear that the there are people at the club with such a dismissive attitude towards this risk.
Any fanbase that has just witnessed the worst season performance for 20 years is going to pretty unhappy.
So, whether there is merit to the idea that fans cannot just assume the club will be successful in the second tier or not, the decision-makers need to focus on what is the cause of such a miserable campaign.
In other West Brom news, Steve Bruce refused to say more about his transfer plans for fear of getting in trouble.
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