For years the Messenger was rubbish for us..then it became really good.
I see now..that will be JL's piece.
I hope it doesn't go back. The backpage was great (although again done by John) last week but the online presence is virtually nil.
Just so you know...It is true Connor has moved on to Warrington, and the word, initially, from the Messenger's editorial department was they were not going to replace him. That still appears to be the case. I was concerned it would mean no coverage in the paper, and so volunteered to provide a back page piece each week, with John Laidlar supplying match reports inside. This I have done every week, interviewing GH in his office after games I've been able to attend or otherwise phoning him the following morning. I am glad Ecky thought last week's was 'great' (yes, it was mine, not JL's - the by-line was wrong, due to a computer cock-up). I would like to think that, in the paper at least, there is a reasonably thorough service, in terms quotes from the manager about matches played and matches coming up, and about injury updates. I hope that's the case, anyway. Unfortunately, I live outside the Messenger's circulation area these days, so don't see it, but they always tell me the stuff is going in when I phone to check they've got it. I also did a story on the Slim For Alty campaign last week which appeared on the news pages and hopefully counted as more good publicity for the club. All this is unpaid, needless to say, but I am more than happy to do it. Their website is a shambles, admittedly, but there's not much I can do about that, because I don't have any access to it. I will have a word with them, though, because it would be simple enough to use the copy supplied by myself and John on the web as well as in the paper. Finally, I hope this doesn't sound as if I've taken exception to any of the views expressed on this particular topic. I haven't. I just wanted to inform everyone of what has happened since Connor moved on.
