Tuesday 7 January 2014

Crawley: Pottinger wrong to consult fans

Matt Tubbs
Crawley Town have signed striker Matt Tubbs, on a one-month loan from Bournemouth. Goals have been a problem for the midtable side, who have scored twenty-five times this season – only four teams in League One have scored less.

They have a very obvious problem in terms of strikers. Last season’s loanees, Paul Hayes and Aiden O’Brien, returned to their parent clubs, Emile Sinclair’s form has been unspectacular since he joined from Peterborough, while Billy Clarke does not tend to play as an advanced forward. The team needed a boost of firepower up front.

However, the signing of Tubbs came in rather unorthodox circumstances. Chairman Dave Pottinger made the unusual move to ask Crawley Town fans who they would like the club to bring in, via his personal Twitter account. Matt Tubbs, who had enjoyed a two year stint with the Red Devils, was the name which kept surfacing. He was the man they signed.
Dave Pottinger

Pottinger has said: “I was absolutely delighted to help give the fans what they wanted – although I must stress this is a football decision made by John Gregory and his management team.”

29-year-old Tubbs featured seventy-eight times for Crawley initially, scoring fifty-eight goals. This is made particularly impressive by the fact that most of these appearances were as a substitute - he had been dubbed ‘Super-sub Tubbs’ by a newspaper. While Tubbs’ finishing ability in the box could be useful, it remains to be seen whether he will have the work rate to lead the line up front for ninety minutes.

It is understandable that some will appreciate the connection Pottinger is trying to make with the fans, who are the backbone of any club in the lower leagues. Supporters put their time and money into following their club and deserve to feel valued - we do not see enough of that in modern football.

Yet it is a step too far to let them get involved with footballing matters. A chairman asking fans for inspiration on who they should sign implies a lack of knowledge, trust and professionalism within the club. If a chairman believes that supporters will have a better idea of who Crawley should be signing than the manager, then it does not necessarily breed confidence. Fans might fondly remember certain players who were good for the team in the past, and have since left, but that is the only thing they will contribute. They will not be able to look at the wider picture.

John Gregory
Indeed, in Tubbs’ case, he has only scored a total of eight goals since he left for Bournemouth exactly two years ago. Crawley fans are unlikely to consider that. They will remember the man who scored forty goals in one season which got them promotion to League Two. To sign him, partly to curry favour from the fans, seems a little bit craven from Pottinger. Surely a qualified manager, who has a career in football spanning over forty-years, with a wealth of experience, contacts and tactical knowledge, will have a better idea of what is best for the club than a group of fans?


John Gregory is the manager of Crawley Town Football Club, and should have been trusted entirely with regard to transfer targets.

1 comment:

  1. It's only a month's loan; if it doesnt work out he can be sent straight back. Quite a nice idea tbf.

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