Touchline asks should a coach ever criticise fans? Sun @ 7pm : Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:45 am  

Touchline is back on Real Radio (106 to 108FM) from 7 on Sunday night with Dave Howes and Lee Phelps in the studio... They're talking about the weekend's action. Plus after Hull boss Richard Agar had a go at some Black and White's supporters, they'll be asking if a coach should ever have a go at his own fans? There'll also be Engage Super League to win... Call: 0845 1062108 Text: 81068 Email: http://realradioyorkshire.co.uk/presenters-shows/presenters-u7rb/lee-phelps/sfnfdr9a/

Touchline is back on Real Radio (106 to 108FM) from 7 on Sunday night with Dave Howes and Lee Phelps in the studio... They're talking about the weekend's action. Plus after Hull boss Richard Agar had a go at some Black and White's supporters, they'll be asking if a coach should ever have a go at his own fans? There'll also be Engage Super League to win... Call: 0845 1062108 Text: 81068 Email: http://realradioyorkshire.co.uk/presenters-shows/presenters-u7rb/lee-phelps/sfnfdr9a/

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:35 am  

Yeah I believe so. A fan criticises the coach on occasions, so he should be able to criticise fans. It's fair game on both sides of the coin for mine.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:07 am  

Terry Monster wrote:

Yeah I believe so. A fan criticises the coach on occasions, so he should be able to criticise fans. It's fair game on both sides of the coin for mine.

Agreed.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:24 am  

Regarding whether a coach should be ENTITLED to criticise the fans - well of course he should. Provided his boss allows it, of course...

But regarding whether he SHOULD do that - whether it is productive and desirable that he should do that - that's a different issue altogether, is it not?

Its rarely sound business sense to criticise your customers - which is what the fans are, after all. And its rarely sound business sense to criticise your product - go ask Gerald Ratner! - which may explain some coachs' seeming unwillingness or inability to admit publically what everyone else can see?

I think the most productive engagement a coach can have with disgruntled fans whom he believes are having negative effects on performances is to tell it straight. Explain that whilst he can fully appreciate and understand the fans' reaction, its actually not helping the team and is making things worse. And explain why. I think this is what Agar tried to do? But its a nuclear option, since by doing so you telegraph to the world that it IS a problem and it IS affecting the team. Only the circumstances will dictate whether the option to do this will alleviate the issues or just make them worse.

Railing at and lecturing the fans from a great height, in Caisley fashion, is rarely productive?

[Bullseye]

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:28 pm  

It's what Agar's been doing in Hull and it hasn't gone down well with their fans.

Always bad PR I reckon.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:32 pm  

Giving 2 fingers to the fans ala Peter Fox in 1995 doesn't go down well either