PLANS to overhaul the FA Cup have sparked predictable – and justifiable – outrage amongst lower league clubs.
Which, in all probability, was the idea. In the US, politicians often talk about raising the flag and seeing who salutes.
Also known in the PR industry as a trial balloon, it is the process of intentionally leaking a controversial idea to the press in order to gauge public reaction before committing time and resources to a full-fledged plan.
One example came during the fag end of Donald Trump’s presidency. Rumours circulated constantly that Trump, facing potential criminal charges, would resign from office in exchange for a guarantee of immunity from his replacement.
What the Republicans really wanted to know was whether the public would be receptive to Trump’s departure and, ergo, whether he retained enough popular support to win a second term.
As to why this approach is required, consider the shambolic announcement of the European Super League.
The news dropped like a bombshell in the spring of 2021. No preamble. No equivocation. The nine clubs involved, led by Real Madrid and Juventus, simply told the world that they were taking their ball and f***ing off.
Denne historien er fra July 09, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra July 09, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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CUT ABOVE THE REST!
ALAN JULIAN is fully on board with Hampton & Richmond Borough's serious message Movember even if he can't stop laughing at his players!
JOE IS SPECIAL GUEST STAR!
YATE TOWN 1 Guest EVESHAM UTD 0
GOAL ACE ROSS HAS PLENTY OF SHELF LIFE
It's 300 up for Allen but Green Lion marches on
TOWN ARE READY TO GO AGAIN!
Witham boss Kimble is eyeing a repeat
DAWS SHUTS DOWN TOWN BUT MAGPIES DRAW AGAIN
DORCHESTER TOWN boss Tom Killick called for unity to help the Magpies shake off their mini slump after a fourth league draw on the spin.
ARCHIE ANSWERS CHURCH PRAYERS IN FLOWERS BOW
TEN-man Alvechurch fought their way to a first league victory since mid-September to kick off the Tim Flowers era with a precious three points.
HORNETS HAVE THE BUZZ FOR VICTORY!
THE CLASH between Wingate & Finchley and Horsham was a tight and fiercely contested affair, with Horsham emerging as narrow victors thanks to a second-half strike.
MACCA'S THE HERO IN 'NICK' OF TIME!
SUBSTITUTE Nick McCoootie grabbed a stoppage-time winner as Weston-superMare battled back from 3-2 down with five minutes left to clinch victory in this top-of-the-table thriller at the Woodspring.
SHOTS LAUD HERO HENRY
FRUSTRATED Phil Parkinson bemoaned the rigours of life on the road as Altrincham were blown away by Storm Bert and a resurgent Aldershot Town in a fruitless tenhour round-trip though the wind and rain.
GRAHAM GIVES UNITED BOUNCE
NEW Boston United manager Graham Coughlan ended the Pilgrims’ 11-match winless run with his first attempt, at the expense of fellow survival fighters Braintree Town.
