Peter Ridsdale admits job ‘is getting harder’ as Preston North End ‘biggest frustration’ outlined
This week, the Lilywhites director joined Jim White and Simon Jordan in the talkSPORT studio for a national radio appearance.
During his 20 minutes on the broadcast, Ridsdale covered a variety of subjects, including Milutin Osmajic and player contracts at PNE.
As the topic of football fans came up, Ridsdale was asked by White about his relationship with the Deepdale faithful – and what it is like. The PNE director vented frustration at some of the social media stick he receives, while admitting that the job is becoming tougher as a result.
On talkSPORT, Ridsdale stated, “Look, some of our supporters believe I am too old, a dinosaur, and shouldn’t be there.”
“I think I would have an issue if it were twelve or thirteen thousand, but you have to respect their perspective if it reaches more than a few. However, in the end, I am employed by the football club’s owner, who selects me. Presumably, I will continue to work as long as he believes I am doing a respectable job.
“The biggest frustration I have got is that the people who have a view, don’t come and talk to me. Or, they hide behind X – or don’t have their real name. Anyone who has their real name and says something I think is through a lack of information, knowledge or whatever, I invite in to talk to me. Some do come in and talk to me; most of them leave thinking: ‘OK, I wish I’d known that before’.
“Some refuse to come in and say you are putting them under pressure, and their mental health, by ringing them up at home – ‘Who do you think you are?’ – having given me a hard time on social media in the first place. Others, I don’t know who they are. But, we live in an age where everyone feels they can say something about somebody else, all the time, without any recourse.
“And, often, without any knowledge. It is harder. It is getting harder by the day. And, some people can put up with that pressure; some can’t. I have had to learn to live with it, because of things I have been through… I have got a sign on my desk which says: ‘If you want to be liked, don’t be a leader… sell ice cream’.”
