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The myth of "no loyalty"
at 20:27 22 May 2024

If McKenna leaves, there will be lots of tut tutting and cries of "no loyalty in football any more". However, this only ever happens when a club has been successful and therefore the manager is in demand. The fans have generally not had to show any loyalty because again, it has been a period of success. If McKenna had looked like taking the club down into L2 instead of starting the current climb, would anyone have insisted on being loyal to him?

Ultimately, fans prioritize their club (rightly), so they have no loyalty to a manager who may damage the club. Managers know this, so they strike while the iron is hot in their careers, as there may be no tomorrow for them if things go badly.

A great recent example of this is Oxford and Liam Manning. The following sequence happened:

1. Karl Robinson is doing well - fan loyalty.
2. Robinson stops doing well - fans say "get rid" despite his long tenure.
3. Liam Manning is doing well at MK.
4. MK lose all their loanees and start battling relegation. Manning is fired.
5. Oxford hire Manning and start off well - fan loyalty.
6. Manning gets great Champo offer - remembers the fickle nature of the sport - leaves.
7. Fans bleat about no loyalty.
8. Oxford hire Des Buckingham.
9. Buckingham starts badly - fans say "get rid".
10. Oxford stick with Des anyway and get promoted - fans crow about how great he is.

Football is just a fickle, fickle beast, and fans cannot chide managers for no loyalty when they will want a manager gone as soon as they hit an indifferent patch.

I hope McKenna stays, but if he goes it is the reality of the sport (unfortunately), not some heinous betrayal.

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BenLaine

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