ADVERTISER columnist and Crystal Palace fan ALEX WHITE urges his fellow supporters to cut out the abuse and get behind new boss Neil Warnock...
THEY say in life and football in particular that you should 'never go back'. That saying hasn't stopped Neil Warnock taking the reins at Palace.
From controversially walking out on the club in 2010, the traditional and certainly outspoken manager once again will call the shots at Selhurst. Warnock left the club while we were mid-administration. Understandably, the way he left divided opinion. Some fans understood his reasons for leaving and agree it was in the best interests of the club. Other Eagles fans will argue that no man should walk away while the club was in such a weak and vulnerable state.
The re-appointment of Warnock will for sure raise eyebrows, both in and out of the world of Crystal Palace. In the last few years Warnock was harshly let go by Queens Park Rangers but also failed to impress with Leeds. The appointment has been received relatively well but if you are one of those fans who are opposing the appointment, I beg you to forgive and forget.
What has happened in the past has happened but we must move on for the best interests of the club. If we stand any chance of staying in this division, we will need to work as a collective and back the manager. We know as a cohort Palace are at their strongest when everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet. Much like last season, Selhurst needs to be turned into 'Fortress Selhurst' and that is only possible through complete backing of the support.
The first game our new manager will undertake is Newcastle away, bizarrely the same fixture as his first once the club entered administration. It will certainly be a very different flight for Neil and the players as it was back in 2010.
The club's board and Steve Parish in particular have worked tirelessly to make the appointment they deem a right fit for the club. I would like to openly praise Steve and CPFC2010 for all their hard work and dedication. Steve, in particular, has taken some extremely disturbing abuse in recent weeks and its horrific to read.
To use the social media to attack Steve and his family with aggressive and malicious Tweets is vile to look at and it must stop. These creatures who deem it acceptable are building a bad name for the Palace faithful and they must be reported and banned for their disgusting behaviour. The last manager threw his toys out of the pram and walked away, and a selection of so called 'fans' think it's acceptable to write certain things that they would never say in person.
With a couple of good results these so called 'fans' will go back to praising Steve, like a majority these fans should stick by CPFC2010 through thick and thin. Why? Look at what we've achieved since they've taken over and then think about what you will say. I don't think signing Wilf will harm his standing either!
