Paul Robinson drops ‘power is incredible’ verdict after Leeds United and Sky Sports development
Paul Robinson said that the “power” when fans unite behind a common cause is “incredible” in reaction to a development involving Leeds United and Sky Sports.
The Athletic reporter Phil Hay wrote on February 18 that an employee from the broadcaster asked a Leeds staff member how they could go about building bridges with the club’s fanbase.
Supporters have been increasingly vocal about the number of Leeds matches that have been moved so that Sky can televise their games.
Leeds’ 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday on 8 March was live on Sky and so is Sunday’s (17 March) clash with Millwall at Elland Road.
Robinson, who does punditry work for Sky, has sympathy for both sides, saying that the money Sky pump into the game means they are at liberty to select what matches to show, but says supporters have the right to voice their displeasure if they feel hard done by.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, he said: “I think the club has very little control over what fans sing and the fans’ opinion and the fans have every right to sing what they want because they pay their money, they support their club and if they feel they’ve been harshly treated in any way shape or form they’ve got the right to voice their opinion.
“You look at the Everton support, the way they have stuck together, galvanised not only themselves but the team, the manager, against everybody else.
“Fan support, it can’t be underestimated, the unity, the togetherness of fans. When you’ve got fans together fighting for a cause behind the team the power is incredible.
“And not just behind the team but when fans are together behind a cause as well then you see in times of trouble at football clubs supporters come together very quickly. Not just at one club but supporters of all clubs come together at times like that.
“When you have a unity of supporters who feel hard done by they’ve got every right to voice their opinion if they feel it’s to the detriment of their team.
“A huge broadcaster like Sky, what they do and what they bring to football with the finance and the way they cover football and televise football, we all sit with football on all day every day, I mean Sky Sports News is the go-to in every household. So to have the biggest broadcaster in this country, for Leeds fans to feel hard done by, you can understand why.
“The club need Sky and Sky obviously need the football club because you have access to the manager, the press conferences, the players – a harmonious relationship is always beneficial for everyone involved.
“At the end of the day, Sky pay huge amounts of money to televise these football games and to have the rights they do and they have the right to move games and put games on television as and when they see fit.”
Leeds United fans have legitimate grievances with Sky Sports
It is a very balanced and fair few from Robinson and you really do have to see this one from both sides because it’s not a black and white issue.
Leeds fans are right to have their grievances, they often have to deal with games being moved at the last minute, which is a genuine pain when you might have travel and accommodation booked.
At the same time, Sky invest huge amounts of money into the game in this country and without that money we probably wouldn’t have the product we do over here.
It feels like the best thing to do might be to sit the two parties down and see if there can be a compromise reached, because if not then the Leeds fans will keep chanting about their displeasure.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay shared what Archie Gray did that probably caught Lee Carsley’s eye.
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