Was it necessary?

No fewer than three warnings were issued to Pool fans at last nights game at Bloomfield Road about racist chanting.

I am sure the nine banning orders dished out to ‘fans’ after the Preston derby would be a good enough deterrent without having to go any further.

I felt like a school boy being told off and being told to watch my back when we were issued with the statements of intent. I do hope that this doesn’t happen in our final two home games. Now is not the time to be reprimanding fans. We need everyone in Tangerine together backing the players to make sure we get that one more win to secure safety.

Moving onto more positive news, the reserves scored a creditable draw at Manchester City yesterday afternoon with Andy Welsh on target for the second string.

Elsewhere it’s congratulations to Wes Hoolahan who has earned a call up to Giovanni Trappatoni’s first Republic of Ireland squad. The squad will meet up in May ahead of a training camp abroad. Well done Wes!