OUTGOING sponsors Integrity Software have called on Wanderers to mend the broken bridges with the fans and mobilise the Blue Army.

Paul Nagle, managing director of the Bucks-based computer software company, has identified a gulf between the club and its followers.

He says Wanderers have got to wipe the slate clean, forget the differences and bring the supporters on board if they want to move forward.

He said: "They've got to get rid of the them-and-us culture and the mistrust between fans and mobilise the Blue Army.

"The greatest resource are the fans. They are the people who stand out there supporting the team through lashing rain.

"You've got to get the fans involved. They live and breathe for the team. Take the stuff on the website. If they are spending all that time writing what they write, let's use that passion and turn it into something positive."

Nagle wants the club to court supporters' ideas and exploit their contacts to bring the money rolling in.

He said: "Six or seven thousand people know a lot of people. They work for a lot of big companies. They're a huge resource."

Nagle wants supporters to get themselves and their bosses involved in the club and do what they can to make money for the Blues.

"If fans really do want Division One football they know it's about money as much as anything else," he said.

Nagle said Wanderers have a great manager, some fabulous people working at the club and that they should use the fans to make it even stronger.

He believes the club should bite the bullet and appoint another chief executive, less than four months after writing off previous incumbent Simon Monkman as a failure.

Nagle the new chief should have a proven football and business background and act as a coordinator with the fans.

He also thinks the club should appoint six new dedicated salespeople to follow up fans' leads and bring in business from the bustling Bucks business community.

And he thinks Wanderers should give to receive and run a few loss leaders.

Nagle said: "What they do on the corporate side is fantastic. The hospitality package is superb but how many people know how good it is until they've tried it?"

He would like to see the club set up an annual glamour pre-season friendly at Adams Park where they could invite leading lights from Bucks businesses to sample the corporate side.

Nagle's company pulled out of their sponsorship deal with Blues last week just 12 months into a three-year contract.

Integrity, who came in to sponsor the Blues at the eleventh hour last March, invoked a get-out clause in their contract because of a change in ownership in their company.

And Nagle is aware that some people will think his comments are cheap with his company terminating its contract at the end of the season.

He said: "I'm sorry the company has pulled out. We were there for the club when no-one else was there last March and I'll still be there as a fan."

A Wanderers spokesman said: "The club would like to hear from anyone who thinks they can help.

"At the Fans Forum, a supporter came up with the idea of fans sponsoring children's season tickets. The club have taken it on board and are following it up."

Anyone who can help should contact Rod Tomlin at Wanderers or e-mail suggestions to us at the BFP sportsdesk and we will pass them to Blues chairman Ivor Beeks.

January 24, 2003 10:00