IN many ways, football is in decline writes Mick Jones

Sky will continue to do well but it is not the cash cow it once was. The ITV Digital fiasco has pushed many teams towards extinction.

Darwen spoke about "survival of the fittest," where the smartest as well as strongest would survive. You do doubt how smart some clubs involved in the deal were when the solicitors they used allegedly missed key points that allowed the ITV companies to escape paying the outstanding payments to clubs.

There is a good side to this though. At least we'll get rid of those "New Fan" types who have been on the football bandwagon over the last few years. I know I'm being elitist but I don't want these people at my club.

You know the sort. You have just settled down to watch the game and, after ten minutes of hearing the comments behind you, your blood pressure is sky high. These are clueless people with mouths and opinions much bigger than their brains who think football began with Gazza.

There are a lot with car rugs, thermos flasks and loud opinions that really should be kept to themselves. A basic grasp of the rules would not go amiss. And then there is the singing. Sorry to upset the politically correct but songs with rude words are sung at football - accept it. If not, sit in the family stand or go and watch ice hockey. Just don't sit tutting and muttering to your neighbour.

Players spit as well, I know, but that's the way it is. It isn't ballet. And another thing - football lasts 90 minutes so if you leave after 85, you'll miss little things like goals or the final score.

It's not just in the stadium. If you want worse, you can listen to phone-ins. I loved the annoyed lady who called to rant about United fans. She said she had studied carefully and noticed that they never wear their team shirts at away games. In her opinion, they lacked pride.

I know a good few Reds and that does not fit them. You would have thought it might cross her mind that they just do not like going out dressed as red polyester nightmares. Football shirts at a game are fine if it's your thing - each to their own - but don't go entering any style competitions.

Support to me is a week in, week out thing. It is about going for years and staying loyal. It is not drifting away in droves when results are not going your way or if it is not a big game.

Check out Liverpool's fluctuating attendances, check out the empty seats at the Reebok most weeks when the team needs support and please tell that woman behind me that you can not be offside from a throw in.