By Chrysanthus Ikeh
A group of New York City FC fans is planning to let the boos ring out when former Chelsea midfielder, Frank Lampard finally returns to the MLS club.
Their anger revolves around the transfer issues hovering around Lampard, who, on Thursday, July 24, 2014, signed a 2-year contract with New York City FC.
The deal, to commence ahead of the 2015 MLS season came under a form of threat on Sunday, August 3, 2014 when Manchester City announced that Lampard would join the club on a 6-month loan. The plan was for him to return to his MLS club in December 2014, only for the former England international’s stay with Manchester City to be extended further.
Speaking with Sportmail, President of The Rail supporters group in the United States, Chance Michaels, narrated fans’ frustration with the transfer logjam:
‘The whole situation is very frustrating, ‘If we’d known all of the details from the start then we would not be as upset as we have been this past week. All of this could have been easily avoided.
‘But we have a problem with transparency in the MLS in general and I feel for Lampard being caught in the middle of it.’
Third Rail co-founder, Anthony Buckley added: ‘It comes down to how they presented it – he was wearing the shirt and we were told he was definitely going to play.
‘Then we were told he was staying at Manchester City and now that he had never signed at all.
‘We’re confident he’ll still come here to play but some fans have already taken back shirts with his name on and say they’re going to boo him.’
