So today is the big day. Will GH stay, will he go? Whose not really bothered?
The past three seasons in the conference have all ended in meeting the “less than expectations” mark. Each three seasons the history books show we have been relegated.
However, what is most disappointing is that this current season we only achieved 41 points, the same as the first season before the ludicrous points decision. Though this season we had a better team, well on paper at least. Even the defence with Shotton, Lane, Young, Tinson and Toulson, Jennings or Peyton conceded more than Aspinal, Band, Maddox, Munroe and Peyton back in 2005/6. Though we did manage to score the most goals this season of our three seasons back at non-leagues elite division.
So where did we go wrong this season? Certainly some of the players brought in during pre-season were not good enough (aka Whalley and Sedgemore) whilst Roca and Battersby did little apart from create and score the winner against nine man FGR.
Yes there was a shortened amount of time to recruit the “right people” during pre-season (so there’s an excuse for next season if we get a third successive reprieve). But a good manager can bring his side to achieve the necessary results, and provide tactics that work game in, game out. Furthermore had Halifax not had their 10 point deduction, we would have been relegated even before the last game of the season.
Some people will go on about the lack of finances for the players, others that GH has been around for years. To be relegated once is unfortunate, twice in successive seasons are questionable, and thrice in three seasons is undefendable. To have a target for three seasons and fail to meet each of them, shows the manager is out of his depth, to keep the same manager after these three relegations is mystifying. Additionally, GH does not behave as a manager should, as an ambassador for the club, anything GH does badly reflects negatively onto Altrincham FC, for instance, heckling home supporters and consistently swearing. I personally know Altrincham supporters who would like to go to matches, but have already been put off by the antics of our manager. But still the club persevere with the same manager, now not only to get us out of the conference north, but to then keep Alty in the league that for the past three seasons has shown he simply cannot do.
Please do not get me wrong about Graham Heathcote, GH HAS done a lot for this club, as player, coach, secretary, groundsman, manager, etc…. But sentimentality should be set aside for the sake of progress. The last three seasons have shown GH cannot manage at blue square premier level. It is simply time to make a change, and to allow a better manager the chance to make Altrincham supporters proud again.
The main debate, if by some miracle the correct decision was made, who would become our next manager?
Nick Jefferson
Altrincham Supporter.