Ian Holloway can't take a bit of a stick - gets a Crawley fan banned for 4 games

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

CRAWLEY Town Supporters Alliance’s Ian Townsend insists Paul Prendergast “hasn’t a malicious bone in his body” after was handed a four-match ban for verbally abusing Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway.
Prendergast stood down from his position as CTSA chairman following the incident during Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Eagles, and Townsend, who is acting as interim-chairman, has expressed concern for his friend.


“At the moment I’m far less concerned about what is happening with the CTSA than I am about what’s happening with Paul,” Townsend said. “Paul is very upset by what has happened. There has been a lot of talk about what happened but this is just football - not life or death.
“I think the ban is more a cooling-off period. Paul isn’t public enemy number one at Crawley.”


And Townsend denies reports Prendergast swore at the Crystal Palace boss.
“As far as I’m aware there was no swearing,” Townsend stated. “Paul is just Paul and I think he wound Holloway up a bit, but there isn’t a malicious bone in his body, he’s just quite outspoken.
“I think Ian Holloway over-reacted (by complaining), but Holloway said himself that last week was one of the worst he’s had so I think that was a major contributing factor.”

 

[mawders]

Here are a couple of the comments...

"A four game ban for this arrogant and rude individual is pathetic. A minimum of a year would be about right. And Crawley's number one fan !! Don't make me laugh, he's way way down the pecking order on that score. This person has been winding people up for the last four or five years ringing that **** bell of his and with his rude and obnoxious manner. The foul language aimed at Mr Holloway was a disgrace and hopefully the Palace manager will take the matter further in view of the laughable punishment handed down."

"I'm with Crawley man on this one - I know it appears sour grapes by the losing team, however if you knew the man you would have to agree with Crawley mans comments. This is not a one of incident and the next four home games will certainly be more pleasant for those that will now sit close to any empty seat. Should have been a much stronger ban from the club."

The guy sounds a real d1ck. I'd hate to be sitting anywhere near anyone with a bell who does nothing but shout sh1t for 90 minutes. Holloway is a t1t but he seems the type of guy who can usually take being wound up by fans.

 

[canuckblue]

Maybe he can join up with that Portsmouth **** with the drum.

 

[ToffeeDan]

Not petty at all. He's not paid to take continual foul mouthed abuse for 90 minutes. It's not just banter, banter is not abuse. If you read the comments the Crawley fans who were at the game and sat near this nob head are delighted about the ban.

Banter is banter and not abuse..

I'll tell you what the difference is: I had someone working for me (yeah, he was a RS) - I sacked him after a volley of invective directed at a senior member of staff, without any justification on his part whatsoever - he dismissed it as "banter" - well I'm sorry when you say things like "what's wrong with your f**king face now" and "you're always f**king complaining" it IS DIRECT, aggressive and unacceptable conduct - nor, on previous occasions, is calling a woman a "f**king dkhead" banter.

 

[steken1]

You must automatically turn into a bell as soon as you pick one up. That Mr.Pompey is the same.

 

[Alan Whittle]

I suppose that I'm bound to stick up for Holloway but by the accounts of the Crawley fans near this bloke he was over the top. Bear in mind that it is a pre season friendly at a smaller ground and the critique/banter/abuse are just going to be amplified.
Sadly, by around the middle of October he will be getting worse from some of ours, we do seem to have a fickle bunch around our generally decent support.
I must have been to about 100 Everton games with my lad since 1995 and it's not something I can recall ever from the Everton support.

 

[Moomin]

Banter is banter and not abuse..

I'll tell you what the difference is: I had someone working for me (yeah, he was a RS) - I sacked him after a volley of invective directed at a senior member of staff, without any justification on his part whatsoever - he dismissed it as "banter" - well I'm sorry when you say things like "what's wrong with your f**king face now" and "you're always f**king complaining" it IS DIRECT, aggressive and unacceptable conduct - nor, on previous occasions, is calling a woman a "f**king dkhead" banter.

Would you call it "Justified?"

 

[ToffeeDan]

Would you call it "Justified?"

No, especially when the insulter is the d**khead and the recipient doesn't really warrant that kind of attack. More relevant though is whether Holloway did anything to justify the volley of invective and whether the fan was the kn*b it is claimed he is.