Chelsea managed to make themselves even more unpopular this week with their non-apology to referee Mark Clattenburg.

While a few Hammers fans dragged the club’s name through the mud with their moronic chanting at Spurs.

The beautiful games seems to be getting uglier by the second and football bosses need to get their house in order or risk killing the golden goose.

Now I love football – but a lot of fellow fans, club bosses and players I can certainly live without.

Following West Ham has given me some great moments over the years – but there have also been times when I’ve wanted the ground to swallow me up.

Watching the scared faces of the general public as a pissed-up mob of supporters struts through the town is hardly life affirming.

While a knuckle-dragging rump of supporters still can’t fathom why it’s wrong to sing about Hitler and the gas chambers.

There used to be a bit of wit in terrace chants. Now it’s mainly unfunny swearing and the basest abuse.

Of course football crowds reflect society – which isn’t a great marker for the future from where I’m sitting.

Violence sent the game into a downward spiral in the seventies and eighties before Italia 90 and Sky TV revived its fortunes.

Football hooliganism has been mainly tamed but in its place is a collapse in civilised behaviour which could drive a new generation of supporters away.

But before we write-off the sport, there’s still a set of fixtures this weekend and another chance to make a few quid.

And to do that I’m going to back against our old mate Harry Redknapp and his team of QPR misfits.

Now Rangers are a shower and even Harry’s fabled motivational powers won’t be enough until the January transfer window when “H” will go into overdrive.

The Hoops entertain Aston Villa who are no world beaters.

But Villa won in the week which will have boosted the confidence of Paul Lambert’s young side who look too big to me at 11/4.

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Running Total for all 2012 bets to a £10 stake:   +£171.00