Some revenge against the scum of St*****ge B*****h...but where's Victor "Tosser" Green? Get voting, kids!

LONDON (Reuters) - Nationwide Conference football club Stevenage Borough have paired up with Channel 4 in an experimental TV show called "You're the Manager" that will allow fans to play a part in team selection.

The six-week series will allow fans to vote by telephone on which players are in and which are out.

"The interactive element of TV is growing monthly and it was inevitable that someone would apply it to live football at some stage," club chairman Phil Wallace told Stevenage website.

"It gives us an opportunity to broaden the profile of Stevenage Borough and the Nationwide Conference nationally at a time when the Conference will be fighting desperately for fairness to apply in its bid for a second promotion place to the Football League."

After each match three fans nominate three players to be dropped from the side, who will then be voted on along with three alternative players selected by the manager.

"If the fans and voters think the original three did well, they'll simply vote them in again. Hence it's hardly like to be earth-shattering and any talk of opposition fans trying to manipulate the voting is way off the mark," Wallace said.

The project -- giving the team more national air time than any of the premier league clubs -- was an invaluable opportunity for Stevenage, but would not damage the side's chances of winning games, Wallace said.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Answers

Ask for Proportional representation

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Our reaction to Craig Bellamy's purchase makes me relieved that it's a Bobby Dictatorship and not a Toon Democracy but it'll be interesting to see what happens for Stevenage...

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Well, here's hoping for the worst, the tosspots. That Danny "fahkin' 'ell geezah" Baker programme on Friday night was painful. Completely f'd up the whole story, made out we were bullying St**anage Boro and even missed their disallowed equaliser. AND failed to show how the stands allowed Borough fans to interfere with the players (e.g. Barton throw-in interupted by a fan sticking his arm in front of his face). And while I'm on, they also missed Kenny's response to our alleged 'cowardice' at playing at St**anage 'I'll play you anywhere'. Convenient editing.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Never mind picking the teams on a democratic basis - how about running the Premiership on a "Big Brother" type basis with fans voting who is to be relegated at season end?

I can think of one team that will be out with a huge majority of votes (assuming it's only fans in the UK who can vote!)

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Great idea Jonno!

We could also have which team that play in black and white with ntl on the front should win the league, I reckon we'd have a pretty good chance of getting into Europe with that one.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002