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If he did that without expressing any form of opinion of his own then not sure that's actionable at all and Gestede's legal advisors will know that. Bit of sabre rattling.

No performative ‘refusing to celebrate against their old club’ there.

I think this needs to be pinned. Hit the nail right on the head here.

The owners have boycotted us for years. The owners have failed to support the club. Pasha and gestede have failed to support the team when they dismantled it and replaced players with dross. They failed to support JDT and Eustace on the brink of play offs. They failed to support the club when they pissed off and got rid of long standing, well liked staff. They failed to support the team when they stuck with val. However it's the fans boycotting one game that will send us down... yeah right.

Players don’t give a toss. ‘Is the package decent/am I going to get a game?’ Is the start and end of it. Do you think Leicester will be getting turned down by players because large numbers of their fans boycotted their West Brom game?

Just for the avoidance of doubt, when I say that imo the Club aren't REALLY bothered at this stage that's not a criticism of the boycott, I view the boycott as a necessary and suitable first step of any protest effort. It's a comment on the Club's lack of good faith. When I see not the usual meaningless soundbites about how committed they supposedly are, but a stellar last week of the transfer window and/or some positive action like VI getting potted, then I'll believe they're rattled. In the meantime with crowds so low anyway Im not expecting miracles out of the boycott but if there is a noticeable reduction in the already pitiful crowds that would be an added bonus. And like I've said if the boycott evolves organically into a collapse in ST sales I think that WILL rattle them greatly.

You seem to be leaning on the side of blaming the fans for the predicament the squad finds itself. I could not disagree more Regardless of what fans are present at Watford, it is the 22 players on the field of play which decide the result As fans we like to wax lyrical about the impact of the crowd but it really is a matter of muchness. The BBE is not going to be rocking if a boycott is cancelled; the football on show is dire, it is defensive in the first instance but it is neither exciting, quick or full of good moments. Ismael's football is turgid and drags other teams in to our quagmire. Second to this, Ewood has not rocked for a game against Watford in well, god knows Players will not sign for us not because the fans are unhappy but because the club has a reputation for messing players around. They (the board, the owners) don't pay the going rate, the don't offer good contracts for renewal which rewards loyalty and above all else they don't show a respect for the club I would say with the most amount of confidence as one could have that the fans will not decide this season. That was decided last summer - when the powers that be decimated our squad of talent and ripped apart a backroom staff with a degree of unnerving carelessness. You reap what you sow but unfortunately football brings with it collateral unlike any other business. It is the fans who suffer from the decisions of idiots. And we have a lot of idiots in charge

It is 100% the case.

Exactly what I said. I advised him to say bring it on, let’s get it out in the open and face the consequences. Gestede wouldn’t dare, in my opinion.

No he has done nothing wrong, other than quote a few people who had stated certain things, that Gestede took exception too.

Nonsense. If a player has a straight choice between a Club at the top or one at the bottom on the same money then obviously he's usually going to choose the one at the top. Otherwise pay them and they will come. The problem is we won't pay them. (The going rate)

The fact they have acknowledged it is good. Those which opposed a boycott regularly told us that the club wouldn’t care Now they are urging you not to follow it. They care. If you don’t show your face, it is a public display of “enough is enough” If ever there was more proof in the pudding it is that statement. I urge all fans to boycott. It really will matter

Why issue a statement to radio Lancashire? I presume radio lancs have asked for a response. However if they are that sincere why not post it on your own twitter feed and website? Because it’s lip service as they know “no comment” looks bad.

Rattled.

If you feel like you're crossing a picket line on Saturday then it'll probably be your guilty conscience nagging away at you. I hope there isnt anyone stood outside the ground or turnstiles encouraging you not to go in and I havent seen any indication anywhere that will be the case. I've no real objection to a Venky's out protest match and personally Id gladly attend for that. As others have said if the overall strategy is to starve them out probably best left for the time being.

They could have waited to see how the boycott went before commenting on it.

No statement on the club website or twitter page. So just that short generic rubbish they've sent to Radio Lancashire. 'Some supporters' 'Sections of the fanbase' I don't think they do understand the number of people who have just had enough of it now. When they deliver League One, or even scrape Championship survival, their season ticket sales are going to take another hammering.

I much prefer this incarnation of the regime to what it was previously. Under Swag, who was an odious piece of shit, there was the veneer of this being a real football club. With him gone though, venkys and their pathetic lap dogs are left to their own devices. They are all the perfect combination of thick and arrogant in equal measures and their lack of ability is clearly on display for all to see, along with the plain as day bullshit transfers that are clearly made to satisfy agents lining their pockets. I am actually quite enjoying watching this all crash and burn. All we can do is just sit back and watch. This is all so obvious now that nobody can pretend that venkys are anything other than a complete disaster and need removing. Don't give them your money, if you do then you are letting these people take the piss out of you.

I understand and respect the need for us to make a statement. Believe me I do. I rather like what Wednesday fans did. Waited for 15 mins outside to make their point and then came in. whatever we feel, we desperately need the points tomorrow and giving Watford a home crowd won’t help the players. If we lose and Portsmouth win at home Sunday then we are 4 points adrift with a game more played I think it is a foregone conclusion that no player of any worth is going to join us, especially with this unrest. We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t.

That's some contradiction, just reading your second line and your last paragraph.

Id say it's the other way round. I read nothing at all into them issuing a "statement" They have to put out a response of sorts otherwise it looks bad. It's whether the response is genuine and from the heart or offers any hope of improvement that is relevant from our point of view. Imo it's just the usual meaningless platitudes and lip service. If anyone thinks they're genuinely worried, fair enough, Im not going to try and dissuade them. If season ticket sales were to fall off a cliff, THEN I think they'd be worried and have to make a genuine effort. It all has to start somewhere!

Sums up our depressing situation. Gestede (and VI) would massively struggle to find their next roles when they do leave. Perhaps a (very) desperate low-level European club might take a punt on VI, but Gestede has no chance.

There would be nothing really to stop the individual from just saying it. I understand there are trepidations about action. I don’t know the details of what was said to trigger it but it would have to be serious for me to be worried It is a bully boy attitude. He probably wouldn’t like it being put back on him - best way to do that is to out him

I feel like we would have had another point or two if we hadn't dropped him unceremoniously. But just a hunch.

What if they never put the club up for sale and just do what they’ve done previously and cut more and more costs on the basis of low turnover? I guess I like that idea from the podcast because the club, like most things, is already for sale “at a price”. Mark described a more of a public plan / organised sort of protest which would be more than a slightly more busy Ewood on EFL highlights @StHelensRover There is no rationale argument against the idea that low turnover can turn off potential investors and vice versa. It’s also inherently far more positive of a protest. Would make it feel less like I’m crossing a picket line on Saturday as I have a season ticket.