Put your house in order
TONY BANKSPREMIER clubs should start reading the writing on the wall and put their house in order.
I get the horrible feeling that a number of them think that the goose is never going to stop laying the golden egg and quite frankly I don't share their optimism.
I applaud the Sunday Mirror's "Fair Play For the Fans" campaign because I am genuinely concerned that people are being forced out of the game by these huge season ticket prices.
I have been going to Chelsea for over 40 years and this season my seat is going to cost me pounds 1,250.
Football is like no other product. You just cannot go away and get a cheaper ticket elsewhere by supporting another club.
I hope that the clubs themselves will see the strength of these arguments and do something about it.
I don't want to be put in a position to have to do something but if politicians are pushed around by a demanding electorate, then something will happen.
All I would say to these clubs is: Just remember that - because pressure counts.
I don't want to be over-dramatic but it's almost like the gas, water, electricity companies which are almost ransom products to an extent
And that is why the Government decided to bring in a regulator to keep a check on pricing in those industries.
This is not a government policy but it's an idea that seems to be coming more and more into consideration.
There should be a regulator for football if football cannot regulate itself.
In the end what goes up must come down. I know it's looking unlikely in football at the moment but a few years down the road clubs might be in a position where they lose their popularity.
When that happens it will be no good them screaming to the Government saying: 'Look, can you give us tax concessions, let us off this and let us off that' because we will say 'No you got yourself into this mess'.
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