Risking caring reputation

Last season, while living in Germany, I, perhaps stupidly, flew back to the UK to use my season ticket and watch every home match.

I also used a parking space outside the stadium, which was free of charge to me, since I am a disabled blue badge-holder.

A few weeks before the season started, I received a call to tell me that my parking space was still available to me, but at a cost of £180 for the season.

Naturally, despite inconvenience to myself, as a pensioner, I had to decline.

I have also noticed that the Fan Zone, not only much loved by families and other home supporters, but also much admired and envied by away supporters, has been removed, no doubt to further reduce costs.

All of that was bad enough, but what I perceived on Tuesday evening even outdid that in its sheer meanness!

Because I had been used to using my computer last year in Germany to listen to the live commentaries of Sunderland’s away matches, I reached for it, out of habit, on Tuesday evening to listen to the Carlisle v Sunderland commentary.

I was then disgusted to read that SAFC wanted me to pay £45 for the season, to listen online to broadcasts of commentaries by the BBC.

Naturally I switched off my computer, and instead listened to the radio!

I have just spoken with BBC Newcastle, who were surprised by what I informed them of, but in turn informed me that since SAFC own the rights to broadcast live commentaries, they can do what they want.

The fact that SAFC on its own website might print team news and additional information prior to kick off, does not, in my opinion, imply that value is added to the BBC’s commentary which merits a charge of £45 per season.

Even if I were still living in German, I would, on principle, not wish to pay that fee.

All of this beggars the question – how much lower will SAFC stoop?

Have administrators within the club sat together and discussed how every last penny can be squeezed from fans?

Although I have not had the possibility of seeing any figures myself, I am fed up of hearing from almost every journalistic source that SAFC is hugely in debt, and indeed, I find this very difficult to believe in view of the reported £93million paid by the Premier League for achieving bottom position, and at least a further £30million for the sales of Pickford and Mannone, and the loan fee for Len, together with the positive effect of greatly reduced salary costs.

Even so, is there any justification for the heartless treatment of supporters outlined above?

Even Newcastle United do not charge supporters to listen to the BBC commentaries!

Sunderland have long had the reputation of being the “caring club”, the club where its supporters come first.

I am more than sad to realise that SAFC is trying so desperately hard to lose that reputation within a single season. Peter Mallon.