Why Wenger and Pulis need to remember it's the fans who miss out when they cancel press conferences

By John Cross

Published 22:58 23/02/11

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The clubs are happy to take the money that is swilling around in the Premier League.

It's the most lucrative, hyped and competitive league in the world. Part of that comes from being the most publicised and promoted.

The fans feed off that publicity, and publicity generates blogs, tweets and thousands of fan websites. There are some superb bloggers out there who not only offer opinions but also fantastic writing which, in turn, gives free publicity for the clubs.

Supporters provide oxygen the Premier League feeds off. But it's this whole merry-go-round which helps sell tickets, sell TV subscriptions, drive interest and keep the beautiful game alive.

So that's why I find it deeply disrespectful to supporters that, this week, Arsene Wenger and Tony Pulis did not hold press conferences.

Of course, we're disappointed as journalists. But we'll fill the space. It's the fans that the managers are letting down.

Furthermore, they are failing to promote the league that pays them.

They've got both busy schedules, we're told. Try telling that to the Spanish media if Pep Guardiola wants to cancel a pre-match press conference at Barcelona.

Before we get any further, people always bring up Sir Alex Ferguson and his lack of press conferences. But he actually does do pre-match press conferences.

Wenger, in particular, has always enjoyed a great relationship with the press.

One of the first things that Roy Hodgson did at Liverpool was to scrap separate press briefings.

In doing so, he alienated the media. People would do well to remember that.

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