SENTINELCELTS

First fans where in, now fans are out. Fan-bloody-tastic.

I must admit that Saturday’s game was the first time I really missed fans in attendance. No harm to Ross County but whoever was controlling the artificial crowd noises either didn’t have a lot to work with or had a bad day at the office. Maybe both, but it just wasn’t working, not sure if you noticed or felt the same.

At the same time we know some games including our own had 300 fans in attendance, a strange number considering that the egg chasing had 700 hardy souls watching. Either that sport has more influence or bigger stadiums, for its hard to claim eminence as the national sport such is Footballs right, when a rival can twist bigger arms or is seen as more respectable.
Whilst it was probably the weeks highlight for the lucky 300 souls, as mentioned before it certainly never helped me in feeling any atmosphere, perhaps if the home side had scored 5 that might have been different.
And now just when fans had one foot in the door, they are once again shut out.

Its hard to swallow on any level. There’s a great degree of hypocrisy involved in that one could go to the pub or restaurant, use public transport or maybe a haircut, even go to work, and chances are all of the above actions would bring a greater risk of infection than 300 spread throughout an entire stadium with masks on as mandated.

Lenny yesterday claimed it is ‘vital’ we get fans back, and he himself has came down as a big proponent of playing games if rather than postponing, rightfully saying he cant see the sense in postponing only for the original issue to arise again and again.
Vital may not be an over exaggeration by the way. While this season may be pulled off, we cant count on that again, and a fanbase that might be worse off than this time last year certainly should not have expectations placed upon them to add to their worries.

Clubs without fans will be forced to severely cut costs, the smaller the club the more drastic the cuts. This would lead to an even more skewed league, which does little to help our institution develop or entice larger television revenue. Should one club fall, the league falls.
Should the league fall, our own club is in danger along with all the rest.
The interconnected nature of football may not be immediately apparent, but clubs are in unprecedented times and will be hanging on every word the first minister says regarding the reentry of fans.
Sensing that fans will not pay the previous season ticket amount again and especially not if the season gets called with zero in the way of refunds, all the member clubs must be genuinely concerned here.

Common sense must be used in getting the turnstiles open again,,and all politics must be put aside here. All involved in the decision need to be responsible, as do fans of course, but fact is stadia offer a great opportunity at controlled social distancing events through strict ticketing enforcement.
Let the people sit.

The above by Mahe. Email your opinion on this that and anything to sentinelcelts@gmail.com for publication.