BOP's unhappy fans speak | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

The Bay of Plenty Steamers' most ardent fans have spoken - and they're not happy.

Last Sunday's lowly 30-18 Air New Zealand Cup loss to the Manawatu Turbos in Palmerston North has seen unprecedented venting on the unofficial fansite www.bopmafia.co.nz this week.

From the Bay of Plenty union's chief executive and board, through to the players and trainers, all have copped a nasty, sarcastic or humorous bash as the blue and gold faithful gather for their rendition of "enough is enough".

Kicking it all off is a rant from 50-year plus Bay supporter, Clive of Auckland.

He writes: "I have never in 50 years of watching Bay rugby, seen a more gutless, bumbling, inept display of rugby as that dished up against Manawatu. As a loyal fan, I believe I am entitled to criticise, and vent my disappointment at this sort of display.

"There seems to be no out and out guts in the team any more. There seems to be no teamwork, and all are playing as individuals going for the million dollar, photo in the paper opportunity.

"I do not expect wins all the time, in fact some of the efforts against Canterbury and Auckland were quite gutsy for a while, until the white flag went up. But the displays against Northland and Manawatu have been abysmal. Where is the traditional BOP fire that used to put the fear into opposition? It sure as hell is not there at the moment."

No need to ask Clive how he really feels. It's the same with first-time poster "sackpaul" who has offered a six-step plan to enlightenment titled "I have the solution to the Bay's woes".

It basically calls for all clubs to band together at the next annual meeting to sack the current board and appoint a new one which, in turn, would sack chief executive Paul Abbott and hire another to find $400,000 and attract Super 14 players to the region.

Sackpaul is also tired of the "sycopahntic" [sic] reporting in the region's newspapers and wants to sack latte-drinking rugby development officers and get rid of the woman who is paid to look after the referees.

Sackpaul wants to cut more people than world champion axeman Jason Wynyard chops wood while a forum titled "Fitness Trainer" asks simply if there is one? Upon finding out there are in fact, three - and a frontrow coach to boot - a wag known as "MrWhk" suggests all that's needed now is a hairdresser and a clairvoyant.

A poll asking what the website's users think of the performance of the tight five so far this season saw 60 per cent replying with their own question. "Have they been introduced to each other?"

There has been some positive support for coach Kevin Schuler - signed on a three-year deal during the off-season - and a sprinkling of "this is a young team, they'll be good in a couple of years".

There was even a post to remind supporters the BOPmafia was borne out of adversity not good times.

How quickly they forget.