Some things never change.

Having been in the game and around it for so long, managers are going to get the sack, referees are going to make the wrong decisions and not get much credit when they do well and certain club supporters will hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Whether anyone in the area likes it or not, Portsmouth fall into that category.

It's such a shame when the history of the club tells us that they won championships and the FA Cup, had fantastic individual players like Jimmy Dickinson, who at one time had played more games than any other player for one club, was an international and a real gentleman respected by everyone in the game.

But what will the club be remembered for most of all?

Probably that their supporters are some of the most fearsome.

I spoke to some Southampton regulars - decent people who follow their team all over but who declined to make the short trip along the coast for fear of troubles getting to and from the ground.

And sure enough it happened again, even though their team had achieved their first victory over us at Fratton Park for 40 years.

Surely this was cause for celebration, not destruction.

They couldn't possibly blame Saints supporters who were still locked in the ground while all the fighting with the police was going on.

We had experience of this sort of thing back in the 1970s and 80s. I remember once after we had played at Brighton as our bus approached Portsmouth the mood among the players and staff was good because we had just won and it was Christmas time.

But everything changed when the driver shouted for us to "look out". He had spotted a group of thugs on one of the bridges over the motorway who began to throw lumps of concrete on to the bus.

So what can we do about it all?

The police will make sure that some arrests are made, although sometimes this makes heroes of those individuals when they rejoin the pack.

I am sure that Mr Mandaric and Harry and Jim will be saying all the right things in their local paper and programme notes, but it has to come from the supporters themselves. Somebody has to say 'enough is enough'.

I remember supporters of Scotland who used to travel away and at times the drink took over and trouble ensued.

They eventually made a conscious decision to change and, while the drink still flows, it is accompanied now by lots of singing and laughter.

And even when their team loses - which is more often than not - they set out their stalls to show their solid support but are determined to have a good time and make new friends in the process.

That would be my message to the ringleaders at Pompey. You've made your point for whatever reason, your club needs you now more than ever so forget the bitterness, acknowledge that the club up the road has got a firm foothold in the higher echelons of the game and decide to try and emulate them rather than kick them.

I have often stated that it would be good for both teams to be in Premiership, which I still believe - but I'm not so sure now after last week that the Premiership needs their supporters.

One other way to try and change things is the sort of children's coaching academy which is being set up in the name of The Football Result by Mike Osman and Richard Digance, two real football fanatics.

It's an opportunity for supporters of all clubs to not just to receive top class coaching from professionals like Matt Le Tissier and Alvin Martin, but also to be taught how to be good supporters.

Football Result coaching sessions at Eastleigh's Sparshatt Stadium take place between April 5-9.

For more details ring 01794 885801.

27th March 2004