I don't normally have a great deal of time for newspapers and journalists as a rule. I used to read The Sun and News of the World but as I couldn't believe most of what they wrote I stopped reading them. Occassionally I will buy a paper if there is something I particularly want to read about but otherwise I get my news fix from the TV and radio even though at times they are no better than the papers.
In recent times, especially since the formation of AFC Wimbledon, my respect for one particular journalist has grown. Martin Samuels of The Times seems to be a man with his finger on the pulse when it comes to all things Wimbledon FC and AFC Wimbledon. This is a man who has seen right through Charles Koppel and the owners of WFC. He has seen what they are doing and does not blindly accept what they say as others seem to do. Not only is he not fooled by them he is shouting it from the rooftops that he is not fooled.
Now, Martin Samuels is not a Wimbledon supporter of either description but he does support a club although to my knowledge he has not revealed which club that is and if he did it would not be relevant anyway. Samuels is pro football and very much anti franchising in football and is saying so at every opportunity in his newspaper. Unfortunately the average football fan, I suspect, does not read the Times and his message may not be getting to those fans that it needs to get to. However, the powers that be at the Football League, the Football Association, Government and probably Wimbledon Football Club do. Samuels message is aimed just as much at them as it is at anyone else. They should take notice and take big steps to stop franchising in the English game dead in it's tracks.
Martin Samuels is not the only journalist who attacks franchising and Charles Koppel, another journalist ( who's name escapes me for the moment) at the Observer has had a good go as well. Following the weekends Party In The Park and the boycott of the Wimbledon v Gillingham game many of the papers, broadsheet as well as tabloid, took great delight in reporting events but come Tuesday are they as much against franchising as Martin Samuels? I don't know but I suspect they have moved onto other things more important to them like the Premiership.
Another article by Martin Samuels appears in The Times on Tuesday (14th). It is a fantastic read and will gladen the heart of all those who read it that are anti-franchising. Mr Samuels should be invited to game as an ordinary supporter rather than a journalist and let him enjoy the atmosphere at an AFC game.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WORDS MARTIN SAMUELS.
