Fan abuse of bosses is on rise

BY JOHN RICHARDSON

THE escalating abuse of football managers reached its tipping point with the vile taunts aimed at Shrewsbury boss Steve Cotterill last weekend.

Cotterill (below), whose life hung in the balance during a battle with Covid in a Bristol hospital, found himself subjected to a flurry of four-letter words just a few miles down the road at Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Ground – and the cry of “I wish you were dead” .

It came as he walked along the touchline in the aftermath of Shrewsbury’s 1-1 draw against Joey Barton’s side and because of his links with rivals Bristol City, a club he managed.

Cotterill said: “That abuse is unacceptable but I don’t know what you can do about it.”

The managers’ union, the LMA, now provide mentors in an effort to help young managers and coaches deal with the stresses of the game which includes having to deal with personal verbal attacks.

Chief Executive Richard Bevan said: “The level of abuse is a real concern. Abusers need to be punished. What managers earn needs to be taken out of the equation. It’s no compensation for the stress this causes.”

Managers are now being escorted by ‘minders’ as they make their way along to the dug-outs.

Steve Bruce has admitted that the constant barbs, including online death threats, he received from Newcastle United fans while in charge of his home-town club, took a toll on the mental health of his family.

Tony Pulis who has been in charge of numerous clubs, fears that it won’t be long before a manager or coach gets subjected to a physical attack, as the level of supporters’ anger is increasing, often fanned by volatile radio phone-ins.

“Some of the people haven’t even been to the games but they get on the radio and can’t wait to abuse the managers,” Pulis stated. “There are no grey areas. Lose a game and they want you sacked and often it becomes personal and nasty.

“We’ve got to be careful this doesn’t turn into physical abuse.”