West Brom: Mark Miles apologises to fans after ‘insensitive and wrong’ controversy
West Brom managing director Mark Miles has issued an apology to fans after the controversy surrounding the Junior Baggies Christmas Party.
This event for young Albion fans to meet their heroes was thrown into question after fans were told players would only sign merchandise that was bought on the day of the event with proof of purchase.
Miles has now responded to fans, calling the decision “insensitive and wrong”, and reassuring that the players would be happy to sign any and all merchandise presented to them.
In an email shared by Express & Star journalist Lewis Cox on Twitter, Miles wrote: “Dear supporter, I would like to apologise wholeheartedly for the frustration and anger our recent email to you has caused.
“The decision to permit players to only sign items bought on the day of the club’s Junior Baggies Christmas Party was insensitive and wrong.
“Our players will happily sign all merchandise presented to them on the night.
“We are sorry for the distress our error has caused and look forward to welcoming you to the Junior Baggies Christmas Party. Best wishes, Mark Miles.”
An apology was needed
Miles is right to have apologised for the actions of the club over this situation. It points to the sorry state of modern football that children were being told players wouldn’t sign their merchandise unless it was bought there and then.
It is no slight on West Brom alone, but the way football is now has turned everything into a cash grab. Tourists are more important than season ticket holders, for example, because they’re more likely to spend more and visit the club shop. This is just another example.
Encouraging fans to spend more money with the fear that otherwise they would miss out on getting their items signed by their heroes was a strange and ridiculous route to take, and one that has rightfully been reversed thanks to the actions of the fans.
At a time when the club is being brought together more than ever amid the off-field antics, this has served as a stark reminder that the best interests of the fans are very rarely at the forefront of the minds of any football club these days.
In other West Brom news, Corberan could axe a key forward in our predicted XI v Sunderland.