The most pathetic internet football story of the week is.....

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18112011/58/championship-plans-afoot-fans-texting-subbing-decisions.html

Coventry City are considering plans to allow fans to vote by text to have players substituted on or off the pitch during matches.

One of the shareholders for the cash-strapped club came up with the idea, hoping that fans would jump at the chance to text a premium-rate number to vote for who they want to come on or be taken off.

The man who wants to turn the Sky Blues' matches into a sort of sporting X-Factor is Canadian tycoon Leonard Brody - and he hopes that it could be just one of a number of measures to help increase fans' involvement, and thereby bolster the club coffers.

Brody blamed the need for such measures on the lack of TV rights cash that filters down from the top tier of the game to the Championship.

"Your television income is so low, and the only source of revenue other than sponsors is your fan base," he explained.

"And so the question is how do you make a more exciting experience for your fan base so they are willing to do more than just show up at a game? How do you engage them more in the game and get their input in the process, and at the same time derive revenue in a way we were never able to before?"

The idea has already drawn stern criticism, with many pointing out that opposition fans could try to scupper Coventry's hopes in a game by texting in to get the goalkeeper replaced by a second-string striker.

But Brody admits that his ideas are still at an early stage - though he seemed determined to start the ball rolling by inviting a fans' representative on the board of directors.

"Let's be the most progressive club in the country in connecting its fans to the game with a representative on the board and an impact on in-game decisions," he added.

"Those plans to do that are still very much in play and it starts, first and foremost, by having some fan representation on the board looking at how you connect the fans to the game but at the same time not cheapening and making it some sort of three-ringed circus.

"It is a really delicate balancing act between figuring out how to do that and doing stuff that fans actually care about and are willing to pay for."

Anybody got Mcleishs Mobile Number ? Get it to me before Monday night. .....H..E..S...K...

[Clampy]

That's the kind of story you'd see posted on April Fool's Day.

[eamonn]

God Bless those North Americans and their crazy ways. Next he'll be getting a tattoo of Mickey Quinn on his arse.

[Chipsticks]

Problem is the trolls. Surely opposition fans could text in demanding the best Cov player comes off? Then again they'd be giving the club money which plays right into their hands, crafty bastards.

How I pity Cov, hope they somehow manage to 'do a blackpool' and fluke a promotion run soon

[TheSandman]

I don't.

[BC54 VFC]

That's the kind of story you'd see posted on April Fool's Day.

Exactly what I said when I went straight to the link posted by ALITA; beggars belief!

[The Man With A Stick]

The idea has already drawn stern criticism, with many pointing out that opposition fans could try to scupper Coventry's hopes in a game by texting in to get the goalkeeper replaced by a second-string striker.

I doubt anyone would notice the difference.

[Damo70]

Fair play to Leonard Brody for admitting the idea is still in it's early stages. Maybe he could get Ant and Dec and ITV to advise him. Then fans would still be able to vote after three subs have already come on and the club could still charge for the texts.

[supertom]

Emile wouldn't last 2 minutes on the pitch if this ended up at VP.

[Stu]

How I pity Cov, hope they somehow manage to 'do a blackpool' and fluke a promotion run soon

They're going down this season, have you seen where they are and who they've got to play in the next few games? The Boxing Day game against Bristol City looks like a relegation six pointer.

[The Man With A Stick]

What next, how about texting them with suggestions for a new club badge?  An elephant standing on a ball with a castle on its back is a bit daft, after all.

[Hookeysmith]

Didnt a team try this previously - Ebbsfleet ?

Could not see how it works - when are we going to realise we have bred a sociaty where everything is thought of as either poxy dancing or X factor

What next Court trials by text vote 

[exiled on the wirral!]

God Bless those North Americans and their crazy ways. Next he'll be getting a tattoo of Mickey Quinn on his arse.

How bigs his arse!

[damon loves JT]

I can't even muster enough energy for a weary sigh at this.

[joe_c]

User generated content will be the death of us all.