CITIZEN comment: One of the worst things a journalist can be told is that no-one pays attention to their work.

It's bad enough when it said to you by a stranger, but to have it said to you by your bosses must be a dreadful blow.

Unfortunately, that is the statement given to Magic 999's dedicated sports staff, not from a listener, but from Mark Matthews, the man in charge of the station.

Defending his decision to axe the station's sports coverage, and in the process axing half-a-dozen freelancers plus the station's head of sport, Matthews said: "If people want sport they listen to Radio Lancashire or Radio Five."

Is that any way to thank the likes of Tom Parker, who, and this is no understatement, is THE voice people associated with PNE coverage.

For more than 15 years, the Colonel has attended virtually every game for PNE, giving his unique style of commentary to an audience, which, although it may not meet Magic's expectations, was appreciative all the same.

It is the likes of Tom Parker that helped give the station, when it was Red Rose Radio, credibility. To dump him, and his colleagues, the way they have done is bad enough. To say what Matthews did is an insult.

According to the station, people don't want sport on Magic, which until just a few weeks ago, was calling itself Lancashire's Football Station.

Yes, Radio Lancashire is there to cover sport, but it can't run commentaries for every game in the county. Something will have to give, and I fear it will be the coverage of the likes of PNE and Blackpool.

Radio Five could never dream to compete with Magic for truly local coverage.

I believe the fans deserve to be able to listen to their games in full on the radio. The odd scoreline and sports chat, which is what Magic's bosses are promising for its new Saturday programme on Rock FM, is not good enough.

We believe Tom's coverage of PNE is unrivalled. He will still write for this newspaper.

We also believe the football fans will vote with their ears and look elsewhere for suitable football coverage - and turn to Radio Lancashire and Radio Five for sport. Own goal Mr Matthews.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.