Scunthorpe United owner Peter Swann apologises after it turned sour in the sell-out away end in the 6-1 defeat at Harrogate Town on Saturday.
Swann is sorry with the club currently sitting bottom of League Two and stated he must “interact better”, after a disappointing start to the 2021/22 campaign.
He has responded to concerns from the fanbase by saying some supporters were “waving a white flag” in a local BBC radio interview this month.
That, along with form and absence from games which he explained, frustrated sections of the club’s support.
“I am disappointed in my approach,” Swann said in a statement.
“[Also] the way it has been taken by the fans, but thought it was my responsibility to sort everything on my own.
“It’s obvious my focus on the club has alienated some supporters and it was good to have honest and at times straightforward discussions in a more intimate surrounding with supporters.
“I apologise if you are one of those supporters I have let down.”
Swann earlier this week stated he will be committed to Scunthorpe long term, before confirming that he had to miss some games because of prior engagements and said his business interests offered further explanation for his absence.
“I am not a retired chairman and have to work on my hospitality business as we try to recover from the last 18 months and that continues to take a lot of my time up,” he added.
“I have managed to come into the club on the weekdays to support where I can, but I can assure you I am as committed to the Iron as I have always been and will do my best to help the manager and the fans get through this challenging time.”
Mike White of BBC Radio Humberside gave some analysis, saying: “Iron fans are concerned right now. For some, it’s more than that – they’re angry and even humiliated given the events of last weekend and the 6-1 embarrassment at Harrogate.
“It appears many feel their club is crumbling in front of their eyes and will end up falling out of the EFL without so much as a whimper. Last week’s loss may have been the final straw for a lot of them.
Love the Scunthorpe fan pretending to try and leg it over the barrier 🤣 pic.twitter.com/lM6yeZqUNO
— Chris 🍻 (@runningmillerz) October 9, 2021
“However, this apology and acknowledgment from Peter Swann may go a way towards appeasing some supporters who just want some reassurance right now that things will be okay with their football club. Of course, this gesture won’t simply halt the slide on the field – a worrying run of one win in their last 24 games in all competitions tells you words alone won’t cut it now.
“What it may do though is change some of the focus away from a feeling of resentment towards the boardroom, with suggestions that this Saturday’s game at home to league-leading Forest Green Rovers was to be met with a backdrop of a fan protest aimed at the current regime.
“Nobody could ever question Swann’s ambition as chairman since he took over in 2012 and at one stage everything seemed to be on the up in north Lincolnshire.
“But when promotion to the Championship wasn’t achieved and the team ultimately found itself in the bottom tier, the purse strings were eventually tightened and the days of big budgets for a playing squad became a thing of the past.
“Right now though, with a bleak-looking league position, a squad of players not currently showing they’re good enough to compete, questions about the manager’s position at his hometown club and dwindling crowd numbers, fans have wanted to know the chairman is still in it for the long haul and these latest comments may, or may not, provide that.”
“It was like watching a club die, in slow motion, in front of your own eyes. It was just heart-breaking.”@Max_Bell_11 on Scunthorpe United’s capitulation at Harrogate👇https://t.co/yTDuiIc6C3
— Scunthorpe Live (@ScunthorpeLive) October 14, 2021
Max Bell of the Grimsby Telegraph wrote the fans in the away end at Harrogate: “Having been 3-0 down as early as the 16th minute, things turned nasty in the sell-out away end. It’s probably good that the chairman has attended very few Scunthorpe games all season, because he really wouldn’t have liked the loud and long running chants calling for his head.
“And to think there were pre-match frustrations that Scunthorpe allegedly turned down the opportunity for an even larger away following. You could certainly see the room for extra fans in the away end, and some supporters were so keen to see the game they even snuck into the home end. They’ll be wishing that they had stayed at home now!
“Having combed through the record books, I have been unable to find any other league game when Scunthorpe were 5-0 down at half-time.
“So many fellow supporters who also made the trip said the same thing to me. It was like watching a club die, in slow motion, in front of your own eyes. It was just heart-breaking.
“Is it thus any wonder that three flares were thrown on to the pitch in protest? After the second one, the referee simply gave up and blew for half-time early. You almost had to laugh.”
He continued: “Numerous supporters, both online and offline, have been calling for protests during the Forest Green game this weekend. The home crowd will be so pitiful that these protests are still unlikely to happen; but that’s not really important.
“What really paints a picture is the fact that protests are even being called for in the first place, and that the supporters demanding them aren’t immediately being laughed at. And nor should they be.
“I sadly don’t think we have yet hit total rock bottom; that will come next season in the National League. But if we are to have a worse 90 minutes, it really will take something. I dare say that we’ll look back in decades to come as Harrogate away having been the one moment, above all else, we knew we were in absolutely huge trouble.”
Twitter users reacted as the Scunthorpe owner apologises after it turned sour in the sell-out away end at Harrogate…
@Bowchicka83: Got to admit, as a business owner my self (not to his level or companies) that sometimes work does rule your live more than you can believe. I actually feel like he’s woken up to the way he’s coming across (especially after been talked about in the same light as John Fenty) we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes its better the devil you know plus right now its better to have a club than not. On field performances MUST change but nice to finally see him take ownership of some failings and thats a hard thing to do in this world
@alex_scunny: Taking responsibility and admitting errors of your ways is a good start.
@JB59795482: I agree. I have lost a lot of confidence in him over the last few years, culminating in being happy if he goes. However, if genuine here, I would give him another chance. He needs to demonstrate it with action first. Here’s hoping!
@djlevitt: Trying to say the right things is a start but one thing puzzles me. he was always going to transfer assets back to SUFC so why the promise of a 99/999 year lease when it would’ve made no difference? Why have an agreement between Cooksilk and SUFC if that was never the intent
@mfozy: đź‘Ź holding his hands up! Much needed honesty at a critical time. Credit were credit is due.
@Jasonhinsley876: Just words in my opinion, sorry but we have had broken promise after broken promise, I will believe it when I actually see some action
@rosscofowler: It’s the lack of money towards the playing squad that’s led us to bottom of the table and threatened with relegation never mind the stadium
@dannyjlind_: I guess it’s a start
@cunnyfunting: Must have come as such a shock that matches are on Saturdays. Just in case you are wondering, Christmas Day is still on December 25th
@Jarvo_2005: Still don’t like him but it’s a step in the right direction admitting it
@AndyPhillipson: Well… The first step is acknowledging you have (or in this case are) the problem. I do not await Friday, but rather the actions which follow. There have been lots of hollow words regarding stadiums and success, but the only truth recently has been about cutting costs.
@Dale83McLean: A few well prepared words and fans are rolling over to have their bellies tickled. A divided fan base is just as damaging as the mans continuous incompetence to lead and run a football club. Fans are being treated like the wife who’s husband says: I’m only going out for one.
@GTShaaaaw: Fair play to the fans involved in facilitating this statement & a potential change of tact from the Chairman. So many problems to go at, but now is the time for action to keep the club in L2 & to develop a relative level of trust & respect between the fans & the boardroom #UTI
@Ironarmyhd: So an apology, an admitting of getting it wrong. Still plenty of fans he needs to get on board. He has to start somewhere though. We all know, it takes a lot to admit you got things wrong. It’s all about how he interacts now. Let’s just hope it’s not hot air #UTI
@LancsIron: TBF if he actually acts on it & changes his approach fair play to him. Needs to realise the football side is the number one focus point of the operation anything else is an add on. Clear communication and a plan will be a massive help #UTI
@MalarkeyIron: Acknowledging that he needs to build bridges with those fans is a good thing. Now it’s time for the Manager and the players to do the same and start proving to the fans that they are willing to give 110% for Scunthorpe United.
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