Yeah I believe so. A fan criticises the coach on occasions, so he should be able to criticise fans. It's fair game on both sides of the coin for mine.

Agreed.

Regarding whether a coach should be ENTITLED to criticise the fans - well of course he should. Provided his boss allows it, of course...

But regarding whether he SHOULD do that - whether it is productive and desirable that he should do that - that's a different issue altogether, is it not?

Its rarely sound business sense to criticise your customers - which is what the fans are, after all. And its rarely sound business sense to criticise your product - go ask Gerald Ratner! - which may explain some coachs' seeming unwillingness or inability to admit publically what everyone else can see?

I think the most productive engagement a coach can have with disgruntled fans whom he believes are having negative effects on performances is to tell it straight. Explain that whilst he can fully appreciate and understand the fans' reaction, its actually not helping the team and is making things worse. And explain why. I think this is what Agar tried to do? But its a nuclear option, since by doing so you telegraph to the world that it IS a problem and it IS affecting the team. Only the circumstances will dictate whether the option to do this will alleviate the issues or just make them worse.

Railing at and lecturing the fans from a great height, in Caisley fashion, is rarely productive?

It's what Agar's been doing in Hull and it hasn't gone down well with their fans.

Always bad PR I reckon.

Giving 2 fingers to the fans ala Peter Fox in 1995 doesn't go down well either