STEVE LOMAS and Tony Gale have urged rebellious West Ham fans: Stop the protests and get behind the club.
The former Hammers icons know how toxic off-field unrest can be and have urged fans to reconsider their actions.
Tony Gale and Steve Lomas have called on West Ham fans to abandon plans to protest against the boardCredit: EPA
Former Hammers captain Lomas urged supporters to put their feelings to one side until the end of the seasonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
With supporters planning to demonstrate against the board during the away game at Liverpool and again at the crucial home clash against Southampton later this month, Lomas and Gale have spoken out.
Former captain Lomas is often seen around London Stadium on matchdays and hopes fans can put their feelings to one side to help the club avoid a calamitous relegation.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport, he said: “Knowing what I know about unrest, my appeal as an ex-captain is: Until the end of the season, get behind the club, get behind the manager, get behind the players and then they can voice their opinions.”
West Ham travel to Manchester City on Sunday before heading to Anfield in their next Premier League game on February 24.
Lomas added: “You look at the next two fixtures and think there won’t be any points.
“Then the Southampton game isn’t a six-pointer, it almost becomes a nine-pointer.
“Southampton should be an inspiration, where they were after that 9-0 defeat. The Southampton fans stuck behind their team.
“The last thing we need is demonstrations at home, because indirectly the fans will be hurting the club.”
West Ham fans are planning anti-board protests at the Liverpool and Southampton games this seasonCredit: Rex Features
Lomas is regularly seen at London Stadium on matchdays and knows what it is like to go down with the HammersCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Lomas began his career at City in the early 90s, when fans turned against chairman Peter Swales.
The former Northern Ireland midfielder, 46, said: “I remember the demonstrations they had outside Maine Road. You’re coming in and having to walk through it.
“In a perverse sort of way, maybe the unrest helped me to get into the team.
“But did it help Man City that people didn’t like Peter Swales? No it didn’t, because Frannie Lee came in and made a balls of it.
“Always be careful what you wish for.
“I’m sure David Gold and David Sullivan will admit they’ve made mistakes but I don’t think it’s out of malice.
“They don’t want the club struggling and anybody who thinks they do is an idiot.”
GALE FORCE
And Gale who played more than 370 games in his ten years with the East Londoners echoed Lomas’ sentiments and called on fans to back boss David Moyes.
The former Irons defender makes a point of travelling away and sitting with supporters once or twice a season to rekindle old emotions, see old pals and canvas opinions.
At the moment they ain’t pretty — with the team in the bottom three and growing discontent with the club’s board: Gold, Sullivan and Karren Brady.
Gale suffered two relegations with the Hammers at a time when the blow to finances, the dressing room and a club’s prestige were not so drastic.
And he thinks it is vital fans put their deep-rooted frustrations on ice to win the biggest battle West Ham have faced for almost 30 years.
Gale was a fan favourite during his ten years with West Ham where he played more than 370 gamesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Sky Sports pundit understands the fans’ frustrations but thinks the players need the supporters’ helpCredit: Getty – Contributor
Gale, 60, said: “The away end is where you feel the vibe and get the real sense of what fans are thinking.
“I understand their frustrations but I can also see the adverse effect it has on the team.
“I played when the whole bond scheme drama was going on in the early 1990s. There were boos, we were aware of things going on in the crowd.
“Going back to that won’t help.
“And we can’t have a repeat of what happened in the infamous Burnley game when Moyes was manager last time.”
A pitch invasion stopped the match when a supporter – now famously – held a corner flag aloft in the centre-circle and fans hurled objects at the directors’ box.
Gale said: “After that the board spent around £150million on players and brought in a so-called high-profile manager.
“But in no way should fans think this is the way to behave.
Paul Colborne – chairman of prominent anti-board protest group ‘Hammers United’ – put a corner flag in the centre circle against Burnley in 2018Credit: David Klein
“Moyes and the players need the supporters behind them.
“Players these days have zero loyalty. If West Ham go down, the dressing room will be empty pretty quickly.
“In my day if we went down with a club there was more of a mentality that it was our job to get them back up.
Lomas also went down with a star-studded Irons team in 2003.
And he had one last hopeful message for West Ham’s supporters and said: “We got relegated on 42 points, which is unheard of.
“That will be more than enough to keep you up this season.
“We are where we’re at. We should try to come together.”
A protesting fan recently made headlines when he was banned by West Ham for displaying an anti-board “GSB OUT” shirt after landing a pitchside flag-bearer gig.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
