Football: Lee's suffering `minor' compared with Swales'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.FRANCIS LEE received only a taste of the treatment that drove the late Peter Swales out of Manchester City, according to the former Maine Road director Chris Muir, who stood shoulder to shoulder with his friend Swales as the campaign to bring Lee to power raged for months in 1993-94.
"That campaign, in my view, killed Peter Swales in the end," Muir said. "If Lee thinks he's had it bad over the past few weeks, it's just chicken feed to what Peter Swales had to endure."
Lee quit as chairman on Monday claiming the abuse from angry fans and pressure on his private and business life had forced him out. Lee's wife, Gill, claims their lives had become hell and the abuse had upset their family. She said: "It gets to you in the end; you say you don't listen or read about it, but it's hard."
However, Muir, now a director of Blackpool and a retired businessman, says he saw worse alongside Swales in the campaign that brought Lee to power four years ago.
He added: "Compared to what Peter had to contend with this has been nothing. What happened to Peter was a disgrace, what Francis Lee has had to cope with is minor.
"When the campaign to oust Peter was at its height, fans got into the nursing home where his mother was being looked after and caused trouble. His home was attacked, and fans spat in the face of his wife Brenda when she was out shopping."
Both Lee and the "Forward with Franny" group disassociated themselves with, and condemned, the abuse Swales suffered before Lee took control in February 1994.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments