Final thought - Passionless players take no responsibility.

There is a dark cloud hanging over Meadow Lane, and it isn't budging.

For too long Notts County Football Club have been in the doldrums of the Football League, a once proud club that stood toe-to-toe with those currently providing great shocks in the FA Cup, and those who compete in the

Allardyce lifts trophy... Notts' last bit of success

Premiership.

But now, the world's oldest league club have nothing but the past to cling to. Far too much hurt has taken over since the last season of any notable achievement - ten years ago as Sam Allardyce led a record breaking team out of the level they are now back in superbly with the title.

It is the fans who have had this ten year spell of hurt - broken only by a couple of decent cup campaigns and the tremendous Great Escape, of which another is needed right now.

Finances have ruined the last decade or so, and mis-management for a number of years from the very top in the boardroom, to out by the dugouts, have led to the current predicament which is surely the lowest Notts have ever sunk.

Whatever this great club's history, the present, and ultimately the future is bleak. The fans can do little about that until some people take some responsibility.

Certainly some fans have started to stay away, but who can blame them? And those that turn in still deserve enormous credit. The passion in the stands against Barnet wasn't questionable.

But on the pitch, where the future of the club does matter, the passion was sadly lacking.

It is the fans who have been with the club through its good and bad times, and its the fans who have the future to look to, this will never not be their club.

McParland... His passion isn't questionable

But for the players it very soon might be. Without pointing fingers at the following, who is to question that Neil MacKenzie, Mike Edwards, Danny Crow or Gary Silk will still be here next summer.

That is not naming that quartet as lacking passion, not at all. It must be pointed out that was just an example.

In the dugout, is something of a Magpies legend in the form of manager Ian McParland, reverred on the terraces for his form as a player. As a manager he has plenty to do, but there is no lack of passion there. McParland wears his heart on his sleeve and he is amongst the fans in sharing the bewilderment at his players.

It is time the players stood up and be counted. It is time they listened to the criticism. Most of them simply aren't good enough.

Richard Butcher, Kevin Pilkington, Adam Tann, Gavin Strachan. They are perhaps the only four to leave this season with any credit. The rest have had good and bad days. Mostly bad - very bad.

There was an instance in the Barnet game when there was a stoppage in play

Tann... Only communicator

owing to a goalkkeping change by the visitors. On the pitch players stood, hands on hips or heads down. They were frightened, nobody taking responsibility.

The Barnet players were communicating, geeing each other up, urging one and other on. The Notts lads? Only one spoke, and that in fairness was half-hearted and almost forced as captain, with Tann giving a somewhat polite clap.

Nobody is taking responsibility. There seems a lack of team work, a lack of togetherness and a total lack of passion.

It is the fans who feel it most.