SUPPORTING THEM SUPPORTING THEIR SUPPORTERS

Firstly, we've been asked to pass comment on the proposal of a winter break, a topic which has re-emerged following the national team's latest "nearly" tournament. Apparently a couple of weeks off in January (without a reduction in the overall number of fixtures, incidentally) would leave our boys as fresh as daisies by the time June comes around.

Now forgive me for being sceptical on this. Surely if we're concerned about the ability of the players to perform in the summer, an earlier finish to the domestic season would be more useful for Sven's men?

This proposal has also been championed by clubs at the top of the Premiership tree, however, who claim that their large expensive squads are placed under too much pressure by the current programme. I'm not sure how this fits in with their outrage at the proposal to cut a few games out of the Champions League - a once exciting sprint which has gradually mutated into a lifeless money-making marathon.

An alternative solution being aired again at the moment is to cut down the number of teams in the Premiership. Feeling immune from the spectre of relegation, I'm sure the top three clubs will consider whether the loss of gate receipts would be outweighed by a thicker slice of the TV pie before taking a final stance on this issue.

On a much more important note, we've also been consulted regarding names for the bars in the new stadium. The idea is to pay tribute to legends of old and the club has offered a short-list of players representing various eras from which to choose. Given that, as part of the agreement, the club is restricted on the extent to which it can personalise the stadium (e.g. spelling Manchester City out with white seats, changing the name of the stands etc.) it's nice to see we can put our stamp on the place in this way.

Personally, I thought we could go with "Bar Bell" (get it?) and maybe "The Frank Swift Half" (all serving Brian Murphy's, Clive Wilson's and John Fosters). In fact, why stop there? We could leave our motors in the Kerkar Park (assuming he signs) and the players could eat in the Anelkanteen. The club shop could be called the Glenn "Whelan Deal" and we could name the Treatment Room after Alfie Haaland. No lame play on words there, I'm afraid, it just seems appropriate somehow....

The short listed players and the vote on the winter break can be found on the club's official website. For what it's worth, I voted an emphatic "No" to the break and gave the thumbs up to Mike Doyle, Asa Hartford and Ian Brightwell for being true Blues, unsung heroes and loyal servants.

Go on Bernie, ask me another.

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