Leeds United: They said protesting against bad owners does not work… but we managed it at Leeds and other clubs can galvanise too
Our protests helped see the corrupt Massimo Cellino sell the club, and it shows that passionate fans pulling in the same direction can defeat any owner
“Protesting doesn’t work.” So often the charge levelled against fans taking a stand against bad owners at their football clubs.
But the protest group have become the first in a line of recent fan movements against Football League club owners to claim victory.
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In January 2017, Massimo Cellino confirmed the staged takeover of Leeds United to Andrea Radrizzani, a deal some 7 months in the offing.
Radrizzani has taken 50% of the club now, and have had it confirmed from several sources he will complete a 100% in the summer of 2017.
In a climate of increasingly unstable football club ownership, particularly in the Football League, the importance of fans standing up and being counted must not be overlooked.
Whilst the authorities have questions to answer around the Owners and Directors Test, fans must play the hand they are dealt.
And whilst power in numbers is often key, through traditional mass marches and walk-outs, the innovation of TTGM was clear to see.
Having received a legal threat from Leeds United’s lawyers within hours of an advertising board going up directly outside the East Stand at Elland Road and calling for Cellino to go, the group had to rethink.
What came next was a first in football. The group projected 40ft images onto the side of the East Stand before their game with Middlesbrough - less than a week after the club had succeeded in getting the poster outside the ground removed.
The stunt received international coverage, propelling their message into the spotlight and winning the hearts and minds of fans.
During interviews with supporters as the images beamed onto the stadium, there was an overwhelming sense of a united and fed up supporter base taking the fight to Cellino directly.
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This was followed by a plane flyover, bus shelter advertising, a motorway advert, drive by poster and much more, all in the direct vicinity of Elland Road.
The protests were funded by fans directly - thousands of pounds raised from hundreds of individual donors from across the world who were galvanised by the group and keen to see the back of Cellino.
But does it work?
Cellino took a severe dislike to the group, and was particularly frustrated at the way in which we had access to information about the club - including updates on progress of the deal with Radrizzani.
As well as working with other Leeds fans for the future of their club, the group were able to create relationships with other protest groups at clubs across the country.
Charlton, Blackpool, Leyton Orient, Coventry and Blackburn are all actively engaged with innovative and exciting protests against their respective owners - and through constant communication between all the groups, ideas were bounced off and joint protests arranged.
The CARD group at Charlton are particularly innovative - with some spectacularly unique protests including flying pigs and a European trip in their branded black cab.
The animosity shown by Katrien Meire and Roland Duchaletet to the CARD group is a tribute to how effective these protest groups can be.
And whilst some of those clubs protesting are still stuck with the same owners, it is vital that fans feel galvanised and empowered to take a stand.
After all, football club owners are ultimately only custodians of the football club they possess shares in, and the fans will long outlast them.
It is that reason alone that makes it so important for protest groups like TTGM, CARD and others to stand up and be counted.
Whilst Time To Go Massimo’s job is done, they wish fellow groups the best of luck in their battles against bad ownership.