Footballers on Twitter - A PR Timebomb

Twitter is great. That needs making clear immediately. What’s so great about it I hear you cry? Well, lots of things, but one of the main ones cited by the Twitterverse is the ability to communicate directly with high profile celebs – albeit normally with no response.

Conversely it allows superstars to clear up mistruths, tell people what they actually think, rubbish newspaper reports and generally gives us more of an insight into their lives that we would otherwise have. After all, who would’ve thought Joey Barton, typecast by many as a stupid, scouse thug, was actually rather intelligent and even a fan of Nietzsche?

But it’s this no holds barred access which can leave organisations, sponsors and employers scratching their heads when something goes wrong.

In PR terms the stable door is left open 24/7 with the horse free to bolt and cause significant damage at any point.

So who is the latest culprit to launch a negative PR grenade – why all round good guy and public favourite Ashley Cole (irony heavily applied).

After learning about the latest developments in the John Terry racism saga Cole tweeted, “Hahahahaa, well done #fa I lied did I, #BUNCHOFT**TS.”

Once I got over how grammatically poor his tweet was focus turned to how in around ten seconds he has once again thrown himself, his employer (Chelsea FC) and the FA into the spotlight and added to the ‘Why I don’t like Ashley Cole’ list held by football fans across the country.

The tweet was swiftly deleted but the problem with Twitter, and digital media in general, is that by then many of his 413,000 followers will have seen it, tweeted it and shared it.

Deleting it is the equivalent of using air freshener in toilets – you can’t see what’s happened but you know that something definitely did.

So as to not be deemed a hypocrite I must admit to following several footballers on Twitter, particularly those from my beloved Stoke City but to be honest, whilst I respect them on the pitch, their tweets offer very little value to my day to day life.

It seems celebs – footballers in particular – are clamouring to get on Twitter and share their views, what they had for lunch and pictures of their lavish purchases with their followers and I have to say I see very little value from their point of view of being Twitter users.

Cole has since apologised for his remarks which he says were made in the heat of the moment, but that’s the problem. We have Twitter on our computers, phones, tablets, and therefore it’s likely we may say something stupid when we’re in a bad mood.

In under 140 characters Cole has once again given the press something negative to write about, casting a shadow over himself and Chelsea and has put a black mark against what has been to date an impeccable England career which looks set to span more than 100 caps.

Just as you should look left then right before crossing a road you should think, then spellcheck before Tweeting.

Sorry Ashley, but you know you’re a star and you know the press are looking for any story surrounding you – so why not leave Twitter alone and save giving them the ammo to shoot you with?!