It can be a strange thing, the relationship between a footballer and his supporters.
The gap between the two, it would appear, is ever widening, with players seemingly content to live within their own world, immune from criticism and riled by those who think otherwise.
It’s a bubble existence, one which tends to earn players unfavourable reputations.
Michael Kay, though, prefers a different approach. And now, he says, is the time for Chester FC’s players to repay the faith shown in them by their fans.
“We owe them,” said the defender ( pictured left ), before the Blues’ home clash with Kidderminster Harriers this Saturday (3pm). “There have been times this season when they might have been justified in giving us stick, with the results and the performances we have produced. But they haven’t, they’ve got behind us and been fantastic to us.
“When things have gone well, like against Wrexham, they’ve been unbelievable. Now is the time for us to pay them back for that support.”
Kay arrived at the Deva Stadium during the summer, following his release by Tranmere Rovers.
At 24, and with three seasons of League One football under his belt, his signing represented something of a coup for Neil Young, though Kay’s decision owed much to the persuasive powers of the Blues boss.
“He sold the club to me,” the full-back says. “I was looking for a club and I was told that Neil Young was interested in me. So I decided to go and speak to him, and hear what he had to say. He convinced me.
“The supporter influence at the club is something that really appealed to me. I wanted to be part of what is going on here, and I wanted to help get Chester back up to the Football League.”
Kay admits the shift from full-time to part-time football has been one he has had to adapt to, but being a first-team regular helps matters.
The North-Easterner has made 11 appearances so far this season, and has emerged as a key figure in Young’s plans.
“I’d be lying if I said it was easy,” he says. “When you’re used to training full-time, to go to part-time status is a big change.
“I suppose you do feel like you lose maybe that half a yard in terms of fitness. That’s only natural I guess.
“But we’ve basically been playing Saturday-Tuesday since the season began, so it is easy to stay sharp.
“If I was doing that with Tranmere, for example, then I wouldn’t be doing much training during the week anyway.
“It’s not an excuse in any case. A lot of teams and a lot of players are in the same boat as us.”
The main thing, Kay says, is that Chester begin to improve on their league position. Second from bottom in the table is not where anyone at the club wishes to be.
“We’ve got to believe we can turn it round,” he says. “I think, in general, we have shown that we can compete with teams at this level.
“The problem is the mistakes. That is what has cost us. The majority of goals we have conceded this season have been errors. Cut them out, and start taking our chances, and we will be all right.
“Kidderminster will be tough. They’ve had a good start. But no team is invincible at this level, and we believe we can give them a good game on Saturday.”
