To claim or not to claim? That is the question on many Canary fans' lips this week as the club made a heartfelt plea for supporters to pump their season ticket rebate back into the club.
There will always be two sides to this argument. And, at the end of the day, no one is right and no one is wrong. It is up to the individual. But the club have to be careful.
In my opinion, they shouldn't even be asking fans not to claim their rebate. If a fan decides not to take up the offer, then that is up to them.
But as one supporter on a City messageboard pointed out, if the Canaries had sneaked up through the play-offs, would fans be saying, “I know you want more money for my season ticket but you've got loads of TV money now we're in the Premiership so please let me pay Championship prices, I'm a bit skint.”
NCFC would say: “Erm, no, that is the set price, like it or lump it.” If you make your bed, you must lie in it. It's as simple as that.
To be fair to the club, they haven't been pulling on the heartstrings too much. City director Michael Foulger admitted that supporters were perfectly within their rights to claim their refund back.
He even went one further and said: “Of course every fan is perfectly entitled to claim their rebate – and to those that do we still offer our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for their loyalty and dedication in signing up for a season ticket for the 2009-10 campaign.”
So to accuse the Canary board of 'blackmailing' fans into not claiming their rebate ? which is a criticism levelled in some quarters ? is harsh. However, as I said earlier, they have to be careful.
But for Foulger to come out and say that he will match any refund amount that isn't claimed is a brave and noble gesture.
If nobody asks for their hard-earned cash back ? unlikely I know ? than he is going to have to find a cool ?1million (who else did the Dr Evil laugh just then?) from his back pocket.
For me, the emergence of the Banham Poultry boss into the public domain has been the one shining light this summer so far.
He is quite clearly Canary nuts and at a recent press conference, his vision about finding new investment was sincere and encouraging.
Foulger is a successful businessman and his newly-found higher profile seems to be bringing the best out of him.
In these troubled times, the way he is 'stepping up to the plate' ? in the absence of the recently-departed Roger Munby and Neil Doncaster – is commendable.
He has always taken a back seat but make no mistake, his financial contributions have been sizeable. Whilst these things are never confirmed, it is clear that his financial clout has funded transfer fees, signing on fees and the like in years gone by.
It would be fair to say majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones are looking a little tired and whilst their passion and commitment to NCFC is never in doubt, it is no secret that they would step down if the right people came along.
But despite the Smiths possibly coming to the end of a very long road, Foulger seems to be embracing this new challenge, both on and off the pitch, with renewed vigour.
So, despite the doom and gloom still engulfing the Norfolk club, and the lack of confidence in the current board, cling on to one thing ? Foulger seems like a good'un.
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