I make no apologies for continuing the theme of attendances at home matches and the apathy of the local fans, for another week, as the issue is a serious one, and giving no indication of improvement.

A good away point last Saturday at Orient (maybe it should have been three, but after five straight defeats we must surely look on it as a good point), followed by a very welcome three points at home against Kidderminster on Tuesday, would or at least should, you might think, stir up the recently absent Swans fans and draw them to Vetch Field tonight for the next crucial game, against Southend. Sadly I cannot see this happening. At this stage, and despite our current 10 point cushion over bottom club Halifax, every game is crucial, and every point and every pound that the club secures, adds to the chances of the longed for comfort and security that we will survive financially and retain our league status.

OK, so the games recently have not been top-drawer entertainment throughout, but the performances have certainly had their moments with exciting times, and some end-to-end exchanges. The weather was reasonably kind on Tuesday, but despite everyone’s hopes the crowd was significantly lower than the gate against Plymouth even allowing for the number of visiting fans at each of the games. It seems that a few hundred Swans fans chose to go out looking for their elusive mates at the very time they should have been dragging them kicking and screaming through the turnstiles.

It seems very apparent that the footballing public locally either do not fully understand that the wolves are still not very far from the club's door, or they simply do not care. If it is the former, then maybe the message needs to be put across in huge letters all over the city, that without fans supporting this club NOW, it may still die. The local media should add their voice in every way that they can. They have influence and need to use it positively and now. If it is the latter, then do any of them realise the domino effect that losing this club would have on the other businesses, particularly the local ones, in the city. Have they envisaged the city with no league football, the loss of prestige, no matter how small that may seem at the present, and the loss of any hope for success? I believe that would leave a huge void in the minds of many people of Swansea, but have they thought about it?

I understand totally that good, consistent performances AND results draw in crowds, but I also think that this week the attraction of a Wales vs. Argentina friendly international at the Millennium Stadium took its toll on the Tuesday gate at the Vetch. How many Swansea City fans I wonder made it to Cardiff last night, in preference to seeing a home league game and giving much needed financial support to the Swans. How many football fans that fall into the ‘stay-away’ bracket as far as 3rd Division football is concerned, went to Cardiff. Many ‘boycotts’ took place during the recent turbulent reign of ownership at the club, in protest at the way the club was being run, and in an attempt to deny any financial leeway to the then owners. However one organisation showed no concern for the state of Swansea City Football Club during those troubled times and that was the Football Association of Wales. Please tell me why, then, many thousands of football fans within the Swans’ catchment area, and who no doubt follow the results after every game in which the Swans are involved, even if they never attend matches, this week chose to line the already comfortable pockets of the FAW rather than direct their cash towards helping the finances of our and their own league club.

Big clubs grow from small clubs. We are a big club in many people’s eyes due to our proud history, but the reality is that we are now a small club, with ambition, but insufficient local fan support behind that ambition. A lot of comment has been made recently on this site’s ‘Guestbook’ regarding the activities of the Trust in their attempts to raise cash to assist the club and the associated community; these comments are all valid and being addressed. It would be good if many of these concerned fans could also direct some anger and comment at the local stay-away fans that could make such a difference to the financial future of this club. At the moment it does seem that there is more life in a tramp’s vest than in many potential and much needed fans, and all the time we have Uncle Sam just 40 miles down the M4 waiting and dreaming of swallowing us up into his Welsh club.

Just hold that thought with you for a moment, if you can……………………