Hell hath no fury like a group of football supporters banding together in protest.
We all know that, ultimately, it’s the boards of football clubs that make the big decisions but that’s not to say that enough pressure from fans can’t force a multi-million-pound franchise to make a call.
Over the years we’ve seen managers sacked, players moved on and signings acquired just because enough noise was made from those on the terraces.
And it has never been easier for supporters to join together now that social media provides them with literal forums in which supporters can air their grievances.
You mightn’t think that supporters have all that much power but you’d be wrong.
Just ask poor ol’ Steve McClaren, who fell victim to some vociferous campaigning against him when he was linked with the Aston Villa job in 2011.
After Gerard Houllier left Villa Park, chairman Randy Lerner was interested in making McClaren the Frenchman’s successor.
An interview was set up but, unfortunately, McClaren never even made the meeting as fans protesting his potential appointment forced Lerner to call the whole thing off.
The former England manager revealed his unpleasant history with supporter message boards during an interview on BBC 5 Live on Wednesday morning.
“I was going for the job just after I came back from Holland, the supporters got wind of it on the boards or something,” McClaren said.
"#AVFC told me not to bother"
Steve McClaren explains how comments of fans on message boards cost him the Villa job. pic.twitter.com/0ii1bNHqM8
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) May 10, 2017
“There was a big protest about it just as I was about to take a train to Villa.
“I got a call saying there were too many anti-McClaren messages and not to bother getting on the train.
“Once you get baggage, you get labelled.”
