Well the season is coming to an end (for some it already has) and it has clearly demonstrated how the once mighty can fall. It has shown that if your leadership is not right and the culture in the club is not right then big names will fail – a brand will not save you. We only have to look at Chelsea, Aston Villa and even my own home town club Newcastle, who have all been badly managed. Many other big names have failed to a lesser extent – Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United by their own standards.

Do we look deeper at the culture within the clubs and the principles under which they operate, and what about the fans? The fans are the life blood of any club, so much more than customers, and they have been ignored for years. The Hillsborough enquiry findings have finally confirmed how badly fans have been treated and persecuted over the years. Yet footballers walk away with millions just like the Bankers and CEO’s of failing businesses – SKY money is not going to make this any better.

As fans we are tied to our clubs as customers are to the Highways and Railways – we have no choice, no matter how you colour it. We all dream of an improved performance and the desire from our players to match that of the fans. Then along comes Leicester City – a fairy tale to match no other, surviving relegation and becoming Champions of our country’s top football league – a team built on solidarity. This team has shown everyone what can be achieved with honest endeavour and real team spirit – a collectiveness to be the best.

My beloved Newcastle has not been able to do this until a real Manager, with a proven track record was brought in. Surprise, surprise, results are improving and people are responding to an improved working environment with a figure head to respect. Why do we keep rewarding poor performance and giving senior roles to people with no proven track record? When you scratch beneath the surface of some of these people, what have they really achieved? Do not expect what is not real.

Well I am off to watch Newcastle’s season come to a close against Tottenham at home with my brothers and sisters. Our fate could already have been decided before the game kicks off or we could be in for a rather tense afternoon. The club has failed for many years but the players will be saved by Rafa and applauded off no matter what the result. I have enjoyed the season with friends, family, old work colleagues and clients alike as my guests at the matches.