‘Overreaction’ – Former Melbourne Victory director Richard Wilson hits out at fan protest

Melbourne Victory fans’ decision to protest at training on Monday in the wake of a 6-0 loss to Melbourne City has been deemed an “overreaction” by the club’s former director Richard Wilson. 

Victory have struggled on and off the pitch over the last 18 months with fan discontent reaching new levels after their disastrous derby result. 

Supporters turned up at training earlier this week with a banner reading ‘The line has been crossed’ with fans understood to be aiming their frustrations at the club rather than the players or manager Grant Brebner. 

Wilson recently stepped down from his role at Victory but has jumped to their defence following the fan protest and feel the players were unfairly targetted by it. 

“You never give up on your club…you’re in and you’re in,” Wilson said on The World Game Live. 

“As a fan and a member you have the right to be disenchanted when things go wrong and voice that opinion through programs like these, forums and other ways but I’m not sure I’d be supporting the demonstration that happened at the training facility the other morning – probably a bit over the top. But that’s the passion that comes with the game I might add. 

“I just think, other than the flares, which is an issue in themselves, just using that in front of the players…the players are trying, they’re in there, they’re committed.

“Their passion, I saw that when they kicked a goal and they all went to Brebs, I know that they’re 100 per cent committed to it. They’re hurting and so I think there is an overreaction to go to that level.”

It’s understood English defender Ryan Shotton was the only Victory player to engage with the protesting fans on Monday with the club itself not addressing the incident. 

Victory are currently bottom of the A-League after winning just two of their first 10 games this season and next face Adelaide United at home on Saturday night.