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Let's get a few things straight. What we are getting if we get reprieved now is only what we should have got in 2006 when we finished 18th on the pitch but got treated much more harshly than Wimbledon or West Ham (how can the FA say it's justified when it's not even a unanimous decision from their panel?) and had to wait til the AGM to start preparing for the Conference. If we had had the whole pre-season we might not have needed a reprieve in the following seasons. Hopefully we have a bit extra time to prepare this time and can improve on 18th now we are out of debt. We will finally be able to see how well a debt free part time club can do in this league. Hopefully we can get a few players on loan like Ryan Shotton who go back to their own club to train and are therefore effectively full-time, that seems to be the way forward.

As for Halifax, yes, it is sad, and I dream of the day when the Conference is decided purely on the pitch. I wouldn't count on it being any time soon though. If Halifax go the way of Telford and get back to the Conference North in a few seasons playing at their own ground, it won't be too bad for them. And let's remember they had 12 "reprieves" when they were in the football league, including 1979 and 1981 when they finished just above Altrincham in the voting.

If they had spent 800k on tax instead of players , perhaps they wouldn't have finished above us anyway, and let's remember the 10 point deduction is a totally arbitrary figure.  And besides I have bad memories of some "sheikhs"!

All I'll say is it's a nice problem to have and I trust Graham and Graham (probably the best we;ve had since Heathcote and King) to get it right.

Salisbury - we went three nil up away and they are almost twice as good at home as away - and minus that player.

Ebbsfleet - these runs come to an end soonr or later, as we found with Gateshead when we got promoted.

Weymouth - the team that needs the win usually beats the team that needs a draw - and Weymouth haven't won much lately (true story, that.)

I know we always lost to Gravesend, but these runs come to an end sooner or later, and what bertter time than now with ERbbsfleet tired and nothing to play for and perhaps distracted by the trophy final.

Is it just me or have Northwich been a bit ropy lately?

I mean, two draws, scraped 2 wins against rubbish teams (10 man Oxford and 4-3 against Stafford). I still suspect that once they get that defeat, and they've got some tough games coming up, they will go off the boil.

Well maybe we've learnt from it.

Anyway we won the play-offs and, I think, beat Runcorn to get into the Conference North.

I just hope they don't insist on announcing the scores from other games over the tannoy like at Hucknall

Stay positive everyone, we can do this - we had to win 3 (and a half) away matches to get to this division after all and we can do it again.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but I think it might be an idea to sponsor the coach again(like with Exeter and Torquay), we will want all the support we can get down at "Ebbsfleet" and Weymouth.

Taking my own advice about positivity - my take on the other teams.

Farsley - are not that good - they had 2 points from 4 games before the win against fellow strugglers Weymouth, and, Droylsden apart, their run in is fairly tough.

Weymouth - have to get four points ahead of us from two extra games (one of which is away to Aldershot) to be out of reach of us by the time we play them. And they have won only two of the last 14, at home to an irratic Stevenage, and the home derby against Exeter.

Northwich, Stafford excepted, have a fairly tough run in, and still need to make up 3 points on us. Their much vaunted unbeaten run is, I think, looking shaky, with draws against Histon and York with late equalisers, and a one goal win against ten man Oxford. I think it is quite likely that they will only get 9 more points or less. Once they lose, I think their form will dip.

Halifax have been on a terrible run and have perhaps the toughest run in of the four.

As for our matches.

Kidderminster - they were on a good run when they played us last time, and with the midweek match for Kidderminster giving Graham a chance to watch them, I don't see why we can't get a result again. Besides, I'll be blowed if we're going to get relegated by these lot again.

Burton will also have been watched I expect, and were beaten the other night. We seem to do fairly well at these teams with a strong home record for some reason (Crawley, Salisbury), and are certainly capable of getting something at Burton.

Salisbury - a mid table team at home (where we only have one defeat this year), already nearly beaten them etc. - clearly we could win this time.

Ebbsfleet - our best chance yet to win there. We will be well rested - as opposed to Ebbsfleet (who we will no doubt have a chance to watch) who have a few matches to make up. Hopefully they will be out of the promotion race and have an eye on the trophy final.

Weymouth - we have plenty of experience of these high pressure matches, and I think we can do it.

All the best Gary, and thank goodness our Ian and co were there to help you.

Hope you're back with us soon.