Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler says the high expectation level of certain fans can adversely affect players
By Luke Cawdell
Andy Hessenthaler believes there is a "new breed" of fan at
Gillingham which is making life tough for the current crop of
players.
The Gillingham manager (pictured) says he feels sorry for his
players who are under pressure from the stands to bring back the
glory days of Championship football.
Hessenthaler was a key part of the success at the Gills, both as
player and manager, and he believes the fans have been spoilt.
Speaking after the defeat to Dagenham on Easter Monday, where
the Gills were booed off the pitch from some quarters, Hessenthaler
said: "Away from home they are terrific and get behind them but at
home sometimes they have high expectation levels, which is rightly
so, but it works two ways."
He added: "They are waiting for us and we are waiting for them
but we have to get the balance right. Back in the good old days,
when I played out there, it was unbelievable and the fans from
start to finish were right behind you for every game.
"There is a new breed of fan at the club now, anyway, and in
those days the expectation levels perhaps weren’t as high as they
are now. We got into the Championship and maybe that was our
downfall over the last few years.
"We got to a fantastic position in that league and I feel sorry
for the guys here at times. They don’t go out there trying not to
win games. If you are not mentally strong enough it can affect you
and sometimes it affects some of our players."
Do you think a certain section of the Gills
support give the players too hard a time? Have your say
below.
12/04/12
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