THERE'S a lesson for the bosses of all football clubs in the demonstration planned by Brighton and Hove Albion fans on Saturday at the East Lancashire home of chairman Bill Archer over the sale of the side's ground.

It is that, though professional soccer may ultimately be a business like any other, those in charge of it must realise that, as far as devoted fans are concerned, they own and run their clubs on trust.

And though it may not be worth a fig in law, it is not a trite notion. For football clubs are part of their communities, part of their history and heritage and a source of local identity and pride - and that's a sort of semi-patriotism that bosses must respect.

And, as Mr Archer discovers, they tread on it at their peril.

For though hard-nosed business decisions may have to be taken at the top, clubs must always remember - though they seem frequently to forget - that their biggest assets are their fans.

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