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Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday chairman Strafford takes tough line with online critics
SHEFFIELD Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford spent over 12 hours defending his running of the club on a controversial fans website.
The internet tycoon was angered by comments relating to season ticket sales and the possibility of impending player departures.
During a string of messages posted between lunchtime and midnight on Sunday, Strafford warned his Owlstalk 'critics' that their 'negativity' could jeopardise the club's plans to move forward.
Former Owls chairman Dave Allen took legal action against the same website two years ago when a judge ordered its administrator, Neil Hargreaves, to reveal the identities of four fans involved.
Strafford, however, has displayed a willingness to exchange views with supporters over the internet for the last few months and, last night, he vowed to maintain his policy of openness and transparency.
"I might be the only chairman in football who communicates with fans like this but most successful industries in the world now have these open lines of communication," he said.
"I only got involved at the weekend because statements were made that were damaging," he added.
"I am not sure they were even posted by misinformed fans, it looked more like a case of people with an agenda."
Strafford acknowledges the club's season ticket sales are still nearly 4,000 short of the 16,500 target needed by the end of July to guarantee manager Brian Laws a 6.5m wages budget.
"To enable Brian to secure the extra signings he wants and optimise our push for the play-offs next year we need to sell 3,750 more season tickets in the next four weeks," said Strafford. "That may look like a steep target to some but I still believe there are many Wednesdayites out there who can and would be better off committing to season tickets."
Strafford has blamed the involvement of 'old school' agents as one of the main reasons why some players are stalling on new deals.
The Owls have offered Marcus Tudgay, Richard Wood, and Tommy Spurr new packages but all three have yet to sign.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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