Think before you tweet! Bradford City chief Mark Lawn in dig at social networking

9:50am Tuesday 1st May 2012 in Bantams Photograph of the Author By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

David Syers, right, in action against Cheltenham. But it was after the game that he made the headlines, when he reacted on Twitter to Phil Parkinson disclosing that he had turned down a new contract David Syers, right, in action against Cheltenham. But it was after the game that he made the headlines, when he reacted on Twitter to Phil Parkinson disclosing that he had turned down a new contract

The uneasy relationship between football and Twitter has reared its head again at Valley Parade.

City fans were still digesting the revelation straight after the Cheltenham game that David Syers had rejected a contract mid-season.

Then the midfielder himself took to his phone from the team coach to voice his discontent about what had been said.

Within an hour, Syers had tweeted twice more to clarify the position.

After a hasty chat with Phil Parkinson, he wrote off his earlier moan as simply a case of wires being crossed and maintained there was no beef with the boss.

But, as is often the case with Twitter, the damage had been done.

If I want to speak to my friends I will go out with them for a pint or a meal. I don’t have to check in every minute telling the world what I’m going to have for dinner

Mark Lawn

Supporters “following” Syers had picked up on his initial complaint and the messages were flying around thick and fast.

The horse had bolted by the time he attempted to shut the stable door with the more conciliatory lines later on.

Both Syers and Parkinson maintain there is no ill-feeling between them. They will sit down together for a more in-depth conversation during the week.

But that first tweet from the player suggested, however wrongly, that there was some kind of divide. That was the perception to those receiving those 140 characters on their phones at Saturday tea-time.

Parkinson has said before that he has no problem with Twitter unless players divulge “sensitive” information. Revealing team or injury news – classified details that City don’t want the next opposition to pick up on – will lead to an automatic fine.

Joint-chairman Mark Lawn admits he is mystified by the obsession of using social networks. But it is difficult to police.

“I don’t think it’s professional,” he said. “Look at what happened with Rio Ferd-inand moaning about players diving all over the place and saying something’s got to be done.

“Then his mate (Ashley Young) does the same thing two games in a row and he doesn’t say anything.

“It’s like being a gossip. You keep saying things about this person and that and it will catch you out eventually.

“Players don’t need to do it. In your professional life, you should just keep counsel with yourself.

“I don’t agree with any of this social networking, whether it’s Twitter or Facebook or whatever.

“To me, it’s for people who haven’t got any real friends and you’re just talking to people you don’t know. But that’s a personal opinion.

“If I want to speak to my friends I will go out with them for a pint or a meal. I don’t have to check in every minute telling the world what I’m going to have for dinner. I know a lot people who do it but I just don’t understand why. I think it’s just craving attention.

“It’s obviously an age thing but I just find the whole social network idea is a bit silly.”

While players are warned what they can and cannot say – and there are guidelines drawn up by the PFA union for Twitter use – Lawn has no plans to write a blanket ban into future Valley Parade contracts.

He added: “I suppose you could do but we’ve not thought about doing it. It just seems a bit daft.

“To be fair, the players are not allowed to talk to the press without permission. So why should they be permitted to go public like that?

“I can understand why it would be an issue in the Premier League but it shouldn’t really be a problem at our level.

“I just don’t get the need for people to tell everyone about their business.”

Comments(25)

Prisoner Cell Block A says...
10:04am Tue 1 May 12

Come on Mark, you are the biggest exponent of foot in mouth. Your employess have learned from the top, shout first, think second. Even this statement could have done with being passed over to a PR guy to proof read as no doubt there will be major gaffes and comments people will pick over. Like I am just doing.

Tis you who needs to think first and for much. much longer than you do fella.

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
10:07am Tue 1 May 12

Your club also uses both mediums as promotional tools and if others did't use the networking sites you would be paying more for promotion and marketing. Embrace it with both arms and move on.

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Peter300 says...
10:14am Tue 1 May 12

The problem is only going to get worse. You are just getting instant reactions all the time. No 'counting to ten'. Oh and where IS Deadbeat SHAUN this morning????????????? He's been to ............PLYMOUTH you know........and.....
.....DUBAI.........a
nd.....TORQUAY!!!!!!
!!!!.......and he PLAYS golf with......PAUL Jewell.....AND he criticises EVERYONE and the club!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
...Deadbeat SHAUN........!!!!!!!
!!!!!

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prince35 says...
10:45am Tue 1 May 12

THERE'S A RECESSION ON MR LAWN , UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T GOT THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO KEEP GOING OUT FOR A PINT AND MEAL.

look plenty of players use these sites but a very good majority are sensible.
They tweet about other sports etc.
And have dialogue with supporters on those issues.

I was talking to a player over snooker etc.

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JBillingsley says...
10:52am Tue 1 May 12

Guy Branston uses Twitter exceptionally to communicate with fans, and remained dignified and positive throughout a difficult spell on the sidelines. I feel more connected with the club and importantly the players thanks to it. Maybe that's why losing big Tweeters like Mitchell and Stewart seems such a shame!

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BigFigure says...
11:17am Tue 1 May 12

Only this morning Brano told us about a cat on his windowsill...it had a bird in its mouth.
(but I agree, mostly he does have good dialogue with fans!)

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KnightMcCall says...
11:53am Tue 1 May 12

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
Your club also uses both mediums as promotional tools and if others did't use the networking sites you would be paying more for promotion and marketing. Embrace it with both arms and move on.
Agreed, best to embrace it and use it to your advantage. With some of the things Mark Lawn has said on the radio; I can't really see the difference. The club need to get their house in order rather than just expecting players and fans to behave as the club want them to. It was the club who went public about Syers and they clearly didn't do this with Syers' blessing so they can't really whinge that he chose to protect his position can they.

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bettyswollocks says...
12:16pm Tue 1 May 12

Lawn ought to try thinking before he speaks.

Comments like these prove what a woman's wee thing he is, stuck in the past with old ideas. Sadly that is reflecting on the club too.

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Weemacbantam says...
12:25pm Tue 1 May 12

Another *Face palm* moment from ML!

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Farsley XI says...
12:51pm Tue 1 May 12

‘Unbelievable Jeff’ Modern communication tools coming into question? ML is one of the worst communicators. His comments divide opinion whenever he opens his mouth? Less is more. Or, as your mother would say, ‘if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’

Come on, supporter want to know what’s going on at their club. This generates interest and may even help sell season tickets. Now there’s a thought some positive communication to sell tickets?

Stop all the negative rubbish, like comments by the manager on the radio where a player as to refute them. There are always two sides to every story.

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nottrue92 says...
12:58pm Tue 1 May 12

Oh when will this man shut up?? Does he take lessons in how to offend his customers on a regular basis?! First we're too moany, then we're not doing our duty by not buying our season tickets quick enough and now we have no friends!! The players rarely say anything out of turn and i for one am glad that Syers cares enough to get tha worked up by it. As someone has previously commented this ability to communicate with the players does make you feel more connected with them and closer to things. They conduct themselves very well. Maybe you should stop talking Mr Lawn, if you have nothing useful to say.

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nottrue92 says...
1:03pm Tue 1 May 12

BigFigure wrote:
Only this morning Brano told us about a cat on his windowsill...it had a bird in its mouth.
(but I agree, mostly he does have good dialogue with fans!)
Thanks for this comment..it made my day! His foster cat by the way :D

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wja1966 says...
1:16pm Tue 1 May 12

I for once agree with Lawn.

I dont get why people want to use these sites twitter,facebook etc

The only positive I can see if players really do interact with fans and give a bit of news but is it only when things are being bad?

I hope these sites disappear very quickly but then each to their own i suppose

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nottrue92 says...
2:03pm Tue 1 May 12

wja1966 wrote:
I for once agree with Lawn.

I dont get why people want to use these sites twitter,facebook etc

The only positive I can see if players really do interact with fans and give a bit of news but is it only when things are being bad?

I hope these sites disappear very quickly but then each to their own i suppose
Like you say each to their own. You're commenting on an online newspaper where some may wonder what's wrong with a good old fashioned newspaper that you can hold and turn the pages and get mucky fingers from the black ink! :D

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
2:26pm Tue 1 May 12

wja1966 wrote:
I for once agree with Lawn.

I dont get why people want to use these sites twitter,facebook etc

The only positive I can see if players really do interact with fans and give a bit of news but is it only when things are being bad?

I hope these sites disappear very quickly but then each to their own i suppose
For exactly the same reason you are using this site and ML has also spoken to the paper. It is a means of communication. End of.

They won't disappear anytime soon, their multi-national, multi-gender, multi-age users are far too numerous and profitable for the site owners.

More chance of this paper disappearing than these networking sites now I'm afraid, much bibber turnover in revenue and users than a local rag could ever dream of. Luckily, as ML only uses the local rag he only comes across as a massive numpty to local people and the whole world don't really see his comments, even though they could they won't.

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gspot01 says...
2:34pm Tue 1 May 12

good job you dont tweet everytime you have something to eat because you'd never be off it.....
.

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Danstarr69 says...
2:49pm Tue 1 May 12

wja1966 wrote:
I for once agree with Lawn. I dont get why people want to use these sites twitter,facebook etc The only positive I can see if players really do interact with fans and give a bit of news but is it only when things are being bad? I hope these sites disappear very quickly but then each to their own i suppose
And what exactly do you think this is?

It's a social networking site.

Facebook- write a status then people comment
Twitter- write a tweet and people comment
T&A- write a story then people comment...

They're all the same thing, people communicating and being social (or un-social in some cases)

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Danstarr69 says...
2:51pm Tue 1 May 12

gspot01 wrote:
good job you dont tweet everytime you have something to eat because you'd never be off it..... .
LOL

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BigFigure says...
2:54pm Tue 1 May 12

Only 140 characters allowed in each tweet....not enough for ML to describe his dinner?

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radiobantam1 says...
3:05pm Tue 1 May 12

Big Figure ... you beat me by 10 minutes - exactly what I was gonna say!

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
3:44pm Tue 1 May 12

Has ML ever made a comment where the majority have been behind him and said ' I like this bloke, he knows what he is doing and what he is saying' ?

I'm struggling to think of one, maybe this should give Mark an insight to his comments, outbusrts, public speeches etc, they have impact but always negative. I really do think you need to pay for and attend an NLP course. You can still convey the same message even if a negative one but the choice of words and phrases used would alienate less people, bring some people onside and at least get the message out there and listened to rather than 99.9% of your audience thinking 'what a complete fool he has made of himself again'.

I am sure he has valid points and if you were to do as he says and sit and chat to him over a pint those views would become clearer and discussable, whether he'd concede any ground is another discussion but I don't think someone who doesn't use a certain medium has a right to criticise that medium or the people who do use and enjoy it.

Stalinesque without the stature.

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Scargutt2 says...
4:10pm Tue 1 May 12

Think Lawnee would need more than 140 characters to tell us what he's had for dinner!

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Danger Mouse Bantam says...
4:50pm Tue 1 May 12

Pot, Kettle, Black.....
Springs to mind ML.

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huggy b says...
5:40pm Tue 1 May 12

It's nice to see so many City fans united on something for a change!

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
10:37pm Tue 1 May 12

Ironic or a sublime message? Or not so sublime depending upon the thickness of the skin.

Without discussing football it proves the phrase 'football is all about opinions' you can come on here after a match and have 50 different opinions, I think there is one dissenter on this topic to pres.

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