So funny you couldn't make it up

[rattyo]

By broither sent me this, made me laugh

Furious Bell chimes in as City drop a monumental clanger

Daniel Taylor
Tuesday October 28, 2003
The Guardian

Manchester City have been forced into an embarrassing charm offensive after alienating their greatest ever player Colin Bell by reneging on an agreement to name one of their stands in his honour.
Bell was so angry when he learned that the West Stand of the new City of Manchester Stadium would be renamed after the former manager Joe Mercer that his family have written to the chairman John Wardle complaining of their "shock and surprise".

Wardle was so embarrassed that he has arranged to meet Bell today in hopes of placating a player who made almost 500 appearances for the club, scoring 150 goals and winning 48 England caps during his time at Maine Road. One option to be put to him is that an approach road to the stadium will be named after him.

The reason for Bell being so upset is that his name had polled the most votes when the club's supporters were asked in March to decide from a six-man short list who most deserved the honour. His family were told he had "convincingly won", only to learn seven months later that the stand would "definitely not" be named after him.

City's explanation is that they suspected rival fans had "hijacked" the Internet vote, and Wardle says he has ordered an investigation. "I am concerned about this whole issue," he said. They feared the player had been voted for so that fans from other clubs would have the opportunity to refer to the stand as the Bell End."

Jon Bell, writing on behalf of his father, describes him as "deeply concerned" and accuses the club of going back on their word. "As a family, proud of our father's achievements, we simply cannot understand City's rationale for apparently failing to comply with the fans' vote. If there was no intention to name the stand after Colin Bell, then his name should have been excluded from the list."

He also says his father had contacted the club's managing director Alistair Mackintosh because he was so concerned "with the manner in which the voting was being either ignored or manipulated"


City fan on radio last night said it was fair enough, if United had an internet poll to name a stand, the City fans would vote for Nobby Stiles! The Nob End, brilliant


In other news, Rio has admitted he didn't turn up for an important date recently.........












........united fans said 'that's Stuttgart covered, what about the drug test?'

[waynemcke]

I love it. The Bell End. The Nob End.

[GETT1NLOTS]