Let’s take a look at the facts:
We are in administration.
We are in 19th place in the 2nd division
We have just been dumped out of the FA Cup by a Conference team.
We were also out of the LDV and League Cups at the first round stage as well.
We have around 16 fit players available for matches at the moment due to suspensions and injuries.
Well, it just about sums the whole situation up doesn’t it? So lets have a look at who – in my opinion – has caused all these problems.
Firstly administration. I think that this all stems back to the beginning of the 2001-2002 season when it looked like we were going to complete the take-over and had money to burn. But when
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All of a sudden all the money that we supposedly had to spend was gone and we were £3 million in debt to various people. Mostly Derek Pavis. In a way Pavis has helped Notts through, because if he had demanded his money there and then when Notts couldn’t afford it he would have possibly sent the Magpies bankrupt.
Now to matters on the pitch. We haven’t won a game since 19th of October and although we keep drawing games, 1 point a game doesn’t get you anywhere. The thing is that this team, who has only won 3 games all season, is practically the same one that saved us from relegation at the end of last season – and for that matter the one that got us into that situation in the first place. The problem is inconsistency.
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Various people have been blamed for the demise this season but for me the only people who are to blame are the players – ok, to some extent the coaching staff as well, but not as much.
The players are the only ones who can determine whether we pick any points up after they cross that white sideline for kick off. Some may argue that the manager is to blame for not motivating and making the substitutions when it’s going wrong – I’ll come on to that in a minute – but first the players.
They shouldn’t really need any motivation to go and win games if they have the ability; they should want to win for their fans and for their team-mates – not playing just for the money. But that is the trouble, players still get paid whether they win 16-0 or lose 1-0. They are still paid the same every month. Yes, there are win bonuses etc but they are paid enough without those as well.
The mistakes they make are down to themselves on the pitch. After all they aren’t remote controlled and programmed by the manager to make those errors.
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Another thing that annoys me is saying in the week’s papers how much the players are up for the game and all the other propaganda that is spouted from various sources (and we all know who!) but it all counts for nothing if supporters are let down on the Saturday.
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Also after the Southport game people have started shouting for Dearden’s head – not many I might add but enough. In my opinion Dearden MUST stay. He came in last season and after a rocky start managed to help keep us in division 2. In our present state we could not afford to pay him off anyway as he has another year or so to run on his contract.
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When he came he said he would be more open than others before him about the club’s state and things within the club. Well I don’t think he carried that out for more than a few months. Now, it’s just promises that never materialise, lies, and stories. Or that’s at least what it seems to many fans.
There is always something that is hidden from the supporters that we should have a right to know as we invest in the club with season tickets and merchandise etc.
There is a fans' forum on Thursday at Meadow Lane, at which, many people will want some important and intriguing questions answering. Whether the answers to these will be just stories, or whether they are true, it will be interesting to see what comes out of it!