Fans abandon Preston in worst season.

Championship team Preston North End have been made to suffer by their fans in what has been the club's worst season in four years.

Figures taken from the club's website show average attendance at Championship games has fallen by almost ten per cent this season to 12,576.

Preston, who had their Premiership promotion hopes dashed last year by a poor run of form, won only two of their first ten games this season.

The club's poor start to the season led to the dismissal of manager Paul Simpson, who had earlier blamed fans for the team's poor performance.

Andrew Steel, 20, a Preston North End supporter, of Leighton Street, Preston thinks the club should have predicted the drop in attendance.  He said:

"You're always going to get fans who drift away when a club is underachieving.  Preston  got off to a poor start and shouldn't be surprised to lose their supporters."

Driving instructor Frank Foxcroft, 53, of Boot Lane, Bolton believes fans will always react to a teams performance:

"You can't expect the fans to support the club when the club doesn't provide for them.  You'll get die hard fans but the majority expect results."

Since joining the club in November, new Preston manager Alan Irvine has reversed his team's fortunes, providing a strong end to the season to impress the fans.

Helen James, 24, of Wildman Street, Preston thinks clubs rely on their fans loyalty.  She said:

"Supporters should back their club no matter what, especially when they are underachieving.  It's when they're needed most.

"Preston have proved themselves toward the end of this season and a lot of so-called fans have clearly missed out on that."

Nicky Strang, 30, an entertainment manager, of Dehalind Way, Preston agrees:

"You should support your side through the highs and the lows.  That's what makes you a true fan.'

Preston meet Plymouth away this Saturday.

Preston North End Football League Championship Fixtures 2007/08

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Preston aim for strong finish to poor season.

Preston North End will be looking to finish their poor season on a high this weekend as they aim to maintain a clean sheet during their final three games.

The club, who face Plymouth at home this Saturday, has had its worse season in four years.

Having been Championship playoff hopefuls for the past three seasons, Preston are currently fifteenth in the table, only 6 points clear of relegation.

The club's season got off to a poor start with the departure of striker David Nugent to Portsmouth for an estimated £6 million.

Fans' disappointment with Preston's under achievement led to the dismissal of manager Paul Simpson in November after the club won only two of their first ten games.

Simpson had earlier blamed fans for the team's run of poor form.

In an interview for the club's website Simpson's replacement Alan Irvine promised fans he:

"fully intends to try and find out where things have gone wrong and what can be done to put them right."

Since joining the side, Irvine has worked to reverse the side's fortunes with Preston only losing two of their last ten games, securing two wins over local rivals Burnley.

A positive result on Saturday will secure Preston's place in the Championship next season, marking the club's 36 point climb up the table since the change in management.

Irvine will now be looking toward next season with the intention of restoring the side's playoff status.

Preston play Ipswich Town on April 26 before the final game of the season against Bristol City on May 4.

Behind the headlines

This week's website concerns yesterday's Telegraph.co.uk publication with the headline:

Free 'health MoT' for over-40s to be unveiled.

The article explains Health Secretary Alan Johnson's pledge for free health checks for everyone in the country once they reach 40.  The story was also carried online by the Daily Mail (A free health MoT for everyone over 40 in a bid to tackle lifestyle diseases).

Behind the headlines, part of the NHS Choices online service describes itself as:

"Your guide to the science that makes the news."

The site does exactly what it says on the tin, gathering links to articles from various mainstream organisations, clearly explaining the science behind the issues.  While it does little in terms of multimedia content, in many cases the site provides a better source of news than sites such as the BBC Health pages.  The information is focused toward the consumer, providing a brief introduction to news issues before focusing on the medical facts most important to the public, ignoring the politics behind the story.

For a clear and uncomplicated explanation of breaking medical news which provides detailed and uselul consumer advice, Behind the headlines should be a consumer's first port of call.