THE decision by Swindon Town to wear their white away kit for the League One Play-off final against Millwall at Wembley on Saturday has not gone down well with the bulk of the travelling fans.
Last week chief executive Nick Watkins revealed the choice of strip was popular with the players and manager Danny Wilson, but Town supporters have been dismayed by the option of sacrificing tradition on such a big occasion.
Mark Smith, from Wootton Bassett, believes wearing white could lead to Swindon’s 30,000-strong contingent looking out of place at the showpiece finale to the season.
“If we want Wembley to be a sea of red and white, then surely the town should be wearing the red strip,” he said.
“It doesn’t make sense. Let’s get behind Town to wear red.”
Another Robins fan, Pete Norris, is worried the change in colour could cause a loss of identity, questioning the motives behind the decision.
“How can the club be selling all the red and white merchandise, and then play in white? We’re going to look like Leeds lookalikes,” he said.
“And we're then playing in the same colours as Millwall. None of the fans understand it. Even if it is a deal with EA Sports, surely the club can run off some special shirts with their name on the front of the red ones?
“Songs like ‘red army’, ‘Danny Wilson's red and white army’ and ‘come on you reds’ are a bit silly when we're in white. Also, where has the tradition gone?
“The other reality is surely the club is going to lose money on merchandise by wearing white, but trying to sell red merchandising.”
Watkins has insisted there is no financial or commercial motivation behind donning white, but in the wake of the Adver’s ‘Paint the Town red’ campaign, fans are demanding the club to reconsider their verdict.
Swindon resident Paul Jack is just one of a growing number of the County Ground faithful who have contacted Watkins in an effort to show their frustration.
“I've mailed the club and suggested a compromise of getting a replica white kit made with a red trim, red numbers and red names,” said Jack.
“Turning around these shirts should not be difficult if they place a special order.”
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