AS a general rule, Yorkshiremen need no invitation to be cussed, but if anyone in England's white rose county needs a reason to feel grouchy this summer, the merest glimpse of a football ought to do the trick.
 This is a desperate for any fan unfortunate enough to finds themselves stranded east of the Pennines. Sheffield United have been consigned to another season in the Championship after their play-off final defeat on Monday; Wednesday finished adrift in mid-table and Leeds' exile in the lower leagues shows no sign of ending. Even York City almost tumbled out of the Conference.
 It comes to something when Hull City - that geographical oddity, all alone on the east coast - are hailed as the Pride of the East Riding after a run of one win in 22 league games somehow failed to see them relegated. Phil Brown might have spent the aftermath of the final-day defeat to Manchester United blowing kisses to the KC stadium but the bouquets should have been sent to St James' Park, given it was only Newcastle's incompetence that saved them.
 Yorkshire's pain is magnified by the extraordinary success being tasted in Lancashire, whose contingent of Premier League clubs now stands at eight after Burnley's defeat of Sheffield United at Wembley. Throw in four clubs from the west midlands - Stoke, Aston Villa, Wolves and Birmingham - and the geographical imbalance becomes even more pronounced.
 Quite why Yorkshire is suffering so acutely is anyone's guess although mismanagement in the boardroom appears a common theme.
 Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Bradford, Huddersfield, York and Rotherham have all spent spells in administration in recent years, a point which rather plays against the stereotype of Yorkshiremen watching their pounds closely and their pennies even closer.
 Perhaps Yorkshire's finest have been striving too hard to keep up with their Red Rose rivals - an impossible task, in truth. The latter boasts English football's most illustrious names in Manchester United and Liverpool, while the intense competition generated by having close to a dozen clubs spread over a 50-mile radius ensures Lancashire clubs are always having to think on their feet when it comes to retaining the interest of their supporter-base.
 Either way, the neutrals should be hoping for a Yorkshire renaissance sooner rather than later. Monopolies are never to be welcomed, and Lancashire's has gone on for too long.
 The only thing now is for a challenger to step forward and restore some pride to the county and, aside from the obvious names, one in particular stands out.
 Doncaster Rovers, financially secure thanks to John Ryan's ownership and playing a pleasing brand of football under Sean O'Driscoll, finished comfortably in the Championship last season and could just push on next term. After all, if Burnley can do it...