Flynn’s call for action over social media
AS far as Michael Flynn is concerned there will only be one result better than a social media blackout across football this weekend – a win for his Newport County side to edge them ever nearer to the League Two play-offs.
At the end of a week in which County had to report more on-line abuse against one of their players to the police, Flynn said he stood shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the industry in condemning the keyboard warriors who tweet with impunity.
As if playing top side Cheltenham Town in the penultimate game of the season wasn’t important enough, Flynn also knows what is at stake in the other big battle for football.
“Social media companies have to take responsibility for the vile abuse they continue to allow to be put on their platforms. It is disgusting,” snapped Flynn.
“Kevin Ellison had something this week that has now been dealt with, but that is just the tip of the ice berg. Some of the things you see are just disgusting.
“People need to be made accountable for what they feel is acceptable.
“It’s an absolute disgrace what people are allowed to get away with.
“It’s fine to criticise the performance or a result, but nobody has the right to start throwing about racist, sexual or personal abuse. It is wrong and needs to be stopped.
“The sooner it is stopped the world will be a lot happier place. Everybody seems to enjoy being negative no wonder there is unrest all around the world.”
After their 4-0 win over struggling Scunthorpe earlier in the week, County face a much tougher challenge against an alreadypromoted Cheltenham team that will be heading to Rodney Parade hoping to stay on the title trail.
With only three points separating four teams from sixth to ninth, the final two games of the season will be tense to say the least.
Not that Flynn feeling any pressure.
“It is a nice pressure to have because we know our fate is in our own hands. We aren’t working on the front line trying to save lives or worrying about putting food on the table for our families – that’s real pressure,” he said.
“What we are aiming for is exciting and if the players can’t get motivated for these situations then they should go and work in an office somewhere. We’ve got a more experienced squad than we had the last time we reached the play-offs and hopefully that will reduce the element of risk.”
While Flynn readily admits that Cheltenham have been the “most consistent” team in the league, and is full of praise for the job his counterpart Michael Duff has done with the Robins, he isn’t ready to help them clinch the title.
“We could have been where they are if we hadn’t thrown away so many points this season.
“When we went there they played us off the park in the first half, but we got back into the game and came away with a draw,” added Flynn.
“There is nothing to fear as long as we apply ourselves.” is