Fans need to be loved too, Ollie
by Steve Pumfrey
A supporters' group leader is urging Leicester City manager Ian Holloway to cherish the fans in the same way he would his players and coaching staff.
Lance Tomlyn, chairman of the Independent Supporters Association, believes Holloway needs to have a better understanding of the frustrations being felt by the Blue Army.
However, Cliff Ginnetta, chairman of the City Supporters Association, believes Holloway was “spot-on” to criticise the fans who barracked striker Carl Cort during Saturday's home defeat against Southampton.
Tomlyn says Holloway's assertion that he wants “cheerers not jeerers” was not well-received by the fans.
Tomlyn said: “I still think he will have the supporters behind him against West Brom on Saturday, but he needs to cherish and love the fans in the same way he says he cherishes his players and staff.
“I would have liked him to come out and say it was not a very good performance. It was no different to what we've seen under Craig Levein, Rob Kelly and Gary Megson.
“He's full of good intentions and says he wants to start with a blank sheet, but the trouble is that's the line we've heard from the past five managers.
“The fans are incredibly frustrated at all these new beginnings which have become false dawns. We all want to throw ourselves into it, but it's difficult when we have a new manager once a month.
“I just feel he needs to appreciate what we've experienced. The fans are not particularly against him or individual players, they are just frustrated about the situation.”
Tomlyn said he was also confused about the fitness levels of the under-fire Cort.
“I don't know what the situation is with Cort,” said Tomlyn. “It was reported on Friday that he has been training, but then we're told he climbed off the treatment table to play.
“The fans have seen Cort a few times now and on Saturday I don't think he was any better or any worse than he had been in previous games.”
Ginnetta, however, believed Holloway was right to vent his feelings about sections of the crowd whose behaviour he described as “childish”.
He said: “I can understand the frustrations because we've been watching dross for the past three seasons, but this is a bright new start.”
Ginnetta believes home fans are fickle when it comes to who they favour in the side.
“The fans keep baiting one player (Cort) and it's not on. I don't see how it's helping anyone's cause by cheering when he was substituted. Iain Hume missed a sitter, but they don't get on at him.”
Ginnetta also believes forums, websites and phone-ins also fan the flames of disapproval, and he had a blast at City legend and Leicester Mercury columnist Steve Walsh. He said: “Walshy is on local radio helping with the Saturday afternoon commentaries, and he has been stirring things up with comments which are bang out of order.”
Matt Davis, a Foxes Trust board member, says Saturday's reaction by the fans can only pile on the pressure ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with the Baggies.
“We have a terrible home record and opposition teams are coming here and fancying their chances,” said Davis. “It must be having a psychological impact on the players and I'd be interested to hear their views.”
