I wasn't having a go at fans, says Laws

BRIAN Laws has stressed that he was not 'having a go' at Sheffield Wednesday supporters when he talked about falling gates jeopardising the club's chances of extending the loans of Michael Johnson and Graham Kavanagh.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Oct 2007, 10:53 BST
Updated 17th Oct 2007, 10:46 BST

Some sections of the Owls support took Laws' stance - first aired in The Star - to be a criticism about supporters but the Wednesday manager said there is "no way" he would be critical of them and none was intended.

"This football club has got fantastic fans, I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it and no way am I having a go at anyone," said Laws.

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"I was simply stating a fact of finance that if gates go down and, therefore, there is less money coming in through that source, then it will have an effect.

"I'm just being honest because if gates continue to go down then there is a loss of income and it makes it doubly hard to hold on to players.

"It is a not a criticism of those fans who stayaway. It is merely stating a fact.

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"When money is tight then an area that would be looked at is players and, players on loan costing a certain amount is an area where you can cut your expenditure.

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"No-one wants to do that - and I was stressing just that - because we have seen what an impact the two loan players have had at the football club. I want to keep them, the football club wants to keep them.

"It was merely putting the facts out there and certainly not having a go at supporters. I'm grateful for everyone who comes through the gates here and, in a results-based business, I understand when people don't come.

"We want to bring them good players, give them a winning team. Win games and that creates an atmosphere - and better results brings back supporters and also brings in new ones.

"In no way am I having a dig and saying that if you stay away then we can't keep these players. It is just a financial fact that if the income drops then these things are talked about."

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In their five home games so far, Wednesday's gates have held up at 20,000-plus on three occasions and slipped below twice.

Next week they have successive home games starting with Laws' old club Scunthorpe on Tuesday and then another newly-promoted side, Black-pool, four days later.

Related topics:Scunthorpe