Oh how we've missed him

Nice to see Imraan Ladak, just seven short years after almost putting us out of business, emerging from self-publicity exile to aim an opportunistic smear in our direction, whilst modestly portraying himself as a crusader for racial equality.

The first thing to say is that his comment piece for the i newspaper this week contained a lot of statements which no sensible person could object to.  There clearly still is an element of institutional racism in the English game, and no form of racism should be tolerated. The difficulty is that he chooses to illustrate his arguments by citing his time in charge of Kettering.  Almost every sentence makes you groan in disbelief.

“The pairing of a black manager with an Asian club owner meant race was an issue in everything we did”

Really, in whose mind?  Assuming he is referring to that first season under Morell Maison, we were too preoccupied with enjoying a lot of attacking football, funded by a big talking chairman who promised exciting times ahead.  As time went on, based on actual experience we increasingly doubted their competence, but that doesn’t make for a good story. 

“We were constantly told supporters were uneasy (Kettering is 94% white)”

Again, perhaps I had a sheltered existence but I have zero recollection of any unease about skin colour.  If he was to argue that Poppies supporters are fickle, impatient and sometimes a bit dense, he’d have a point, but overwhelmingly bigoted?  Ladak makes Kettering sound like the only thing missing was a burning cross.

“When Morell picked black players, there were whispers of favouritism”

When Morell picked black players, like Abbey, Marna and Howe, there were very frequent goal celebrations.  Sure, there were also some duds among the pearls, but the only suggestions of favouritism I can recall were when Ladak twice brought Maison back to the club after sacking him the first time!

"We worked hard to make football a more inclusive and meritocratic place – not only on the pitch but also in the dugout and the directors box”

That’s football generally not just a small club in Northamptonshire? Obviously Imraan was busy doing a lot more than we realised!  As for us, his hard work in redressing inbuilt discrimination included bringing in as consultant a well known figure after he was sacked by ITV for a racist remark, and making at least 11 managerial appointments of whom 10 were white.  

This self serving guff aside, we’re honest enough to acknowledge that every football crowd sometimes contains the odd idiot who says something stupid - and we’re no different.  When it happens, it’s called out for what it is, not condoned or otherwise excused.  Imraan, if it makes you feel better about your botched ownership to blame others and put yourself on a pedestal, that’s a matter for you, but next time keep it to yourself?