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This is what one independent spectator (from the BBC) thought.

"But Altrincham's equaliser was no more than they deserved after creating the better chances, with Warren Peyton hitting the post in the first half."

Whom should we trust I wonder?

I'm afraid I sort of know what Cult... means.

I would say that Alty is set up in such a way that relegation would not be a catastrophe - and a good thing too. But clubs who say "it wouldn't be the end of the world if we go down" seem to me to be the ones that often do go down. For other clubs in this league, relegation might mean liquidation and that must be an extra motivating factor.

I'm not saying that the board has got it wrong at all - I think they've got it dead right - but that realism is in one-sense a handicap compared to the cock-eyed refusal to live in the real world of other clubs. Maybe this is what Cult... is driving at?

If though one of the 'we're not even contemplating relegation' clubs does go down and then goes bust, we'll have seen the wisdom of our board's policies.

I like the looks of this team - Joe O'Neill would be very unlucky to be left out after his display in the last home game. And we've got a nice balance now - two left-footers on the left!

And plenty of options on the bench if we go behind. Is Gary Scott injured then?

One thing I don't understand is how administration is actually working at Crawley. I thought that what happened with administration is that all unnecessary costs were cut and the priority was to get as much money as possible for creditors. Football clubs are hugely important things but there are other businesses that may fold because of not getting paid by Crawley. So why are the administrators allowing Crawley to sign more and more players when, given the results so far, they seem far from necessary?

All interesting viewpoints, but what do people suggest should be done?

Someone said they should be relegated to a league that they could afford to play in, but thats in no way feasible obviously.

My perception, and I may be wrong, is that Crawley have been doing rather more than picking up the odd offcut from other club's squads. A number of times this season, they've signed players from League clubs or players where there has been competition for their signature from other Conference clubs. In these cases, I would suspect the players will be on rather more than expenses.

Nobody apart from you has mentioned a further point deduction, have they? That's not the point at all. What I would like to see is a situation in which  football clubs sign players because they can afford to, rather than because they can just add the money to a vast pile of debt they're never going to pay. That just seems plain wrong to me. And don't you think that allowing Crawley to continue in this way is actually embedding the Majeeds in the club rather than forcing them out?

I have huge sympathy with Crawley fans - I signed the petition that was created against the Majeeds last year. Our problems last season were not financial of course, but would Alty fans really be returning support by saying that the present situation at Crawley is fine? Didn't many Crawley fans want it to go into administration just so that the Majeeds could be wrenched out? Are you sure that Crawley fans are as happy with the Conference and FA's laissez-faire attitude as you are?

If all they were doing was putting a scratch squad together and competing well, that would clearly be admirable. But my perception is that their playing staff bears no relation to the club's ability to afford it because the club no longer operates in financial reality.

'Big-name players'? I would hardly call Marcus Richardson and Sean Ridgway big-name players, Richardson is a journeyman striker who's had 12 clubs and he is only 29, whilst Ridgway is a baby at 20. I doubt many of them are getting good wages, theyre probably on 'non-contract' terms which is basically expenses.

'And even more livid that no-one in the footballing authorities is stopping them doing it.'

Dont you think the 10 point deduction was enough? What do you suggest then, deduct even more points for having the gall to sign a couple of players on non contract terms?

AltySmiffy reckons they should be put in a league in which they can function as a financially successful club? Well Smiffy, if that were the case nearly every club in the Football League and Conference would have to be relegated (last reports i read showed 75% of FL clubs run at a loss), and that would be a bit farcical wouldn't it?

Crawley have had their problems, mainly down to dodgy owners and financial mismanagement, and they were duly punished with administration and a ten point deduction. They had a summer of uncertainty in which 23 players of their squad didnt turn up for pre-season. Not many thought they could make a fist of it, but the club as a whole has regrouped, fans working day and night as volunteers to ensure the club fight on to survive that little bit longer, in the hope they can get shut of those T**ts the Majeeds. They deserve their chance to put it right. Im trying my hardest not to come up with the old 'look what the fans and teams of the Conference did for you last year....' which im sure you've heard before.. but for you to try and kick them while they are down is a little harsh.

A particularly topical memory I have of Bernard is our away win at Woking in 2000. He didn't know me from Adam but saw me applauding at the touchline at the end and sprinted twenty yards to come and hug me.

I think what many fans loved about having Bernard as our manager is that, while some managers seem at one remove from the fans, Bernard was and is one of us. You could never doubt his devotion because it was there for all to see.

Get well soon Bernard. Your great contribution to the renaissance of Altrincham FC is not forgotten.

I don't suppose that 17th in the Conference is the limit of any Alty fan's ambitions. But it would be our highest league finish in over ten years. Is there no achievement in that?

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So would finishing 17th in the Conference and going out of the Trophy in the first round constitute a good season to you?

Paul Edwards would be a shoe-in for an Alty all-time ginger eleven.