I've been watching the debate raging about the future of Altrincham F.C. with interest. While I'm impressed with the amount of passion shown, I do think that some of the comments could be more level-headed and less personalised. Whatever your point of view, having a sharp dig at the current Board and Management isn't necessary. They haven't done anything illegal, spiteful or underhand. Quite the opposite. They've put their own passion, time and money into saving the club and keeping it afloat in the short term. They've done many things behind the scenes that rest on goodwill not million-pound loans. Whatever you think of Graham Heathcote or his style of management, you can't deny his passion for the club, his knowledge of the non-league game and the amount of tasks he takes on board at the ground. He also has the ability to entice and keep players that are firm favourites with the fans ... Little, Shotton, Coburn, Senior, etc.. To those people who wish to change all this, I'd say that you do have a valid and important point of view.
But it's a big set of questions that you're asking. What kind of club should Alty be? And how high should we aim? Do we want to rise to the level of Man. Utd? Or Burnley? Crewe?
The giddy heights of Cheltenham Town? Would we want to mirror the "successes" of Boston United, or become a solid 50-60 point-a-season BSP side (like Halifax?!). Can million-pound backers be found to finance any of this? Do we have to turn professional? Can we ever attract big enough crowds .. to match Wigan? Stockport? F.C. United?
Or do we follow the tradition since 1903? Supporting a non-league, semi-professional "community club aiming to play in the highest league we can afford."
My own opinion, as a fan of the last 40 years, is that if I wanted to support a team at a higher level I'd watch Man. Utd, City or Stockport. If I just wanted a team with limitless ambition and recent successes on the pitch, I'd switch to F.C.United. But I don't want these things ... no true Alty fan does because our team is Altrincham F.C. and always will be. Through good times and bad. Through good substitutions and bad. With or without extra cash from ground-sharing. With or without a recognised natural left-back. Defence or attack. So ... by all means debate the issues, the options for the future and the tactics on the pitch. But please keep the bigger picture in view and avoid personal attacks on decent people who give a lot of time and money trying to do their best for the club.