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On the match itself - Graham was scouting for Millwall wasn't he? So do you suppose that on Saturday, Graham went to watch Exeter while Graham went to the Torquay match?

We will probably be alright now I think. We have the management team and squad in place to do it, we are a match for anyone on our day as Torquay showed, we just need to avoid major problems now.

A big blow to lose King. It's a good thing it's Droylsden and Farsley next!

On the bench in what exactly?

Don't worry, no doubt they'll be saving him for Saturday where he'll probably play out of his skin...

P.S. I need to know, someone at work is convinced we'll go down, but I can't see it, especially since King signed for another month.

From where I'm stood, what a great week!

Out of the bottom four at last, a very good appointment as assistant manager, Heathcote's future confirmed, and the pitch held up well on Tuesday night in a severe test.

My analysis of the season so far:

1st 10, we struggled and were always likely to, with a lot of new players, and changing division at the AGM.

Next 8, we did well enough to look like staying up.

Then a poor run of 5 league games as the restrictions of the transfer window started to bite.

Now with money in the bank and new players in the transfer window allowing us to catch up where we fell behind in the summer, I fully expect us to continue our recent form and stay up fairly comfortably.


So far, since we got back, we have been playing with one arm tied behind our back as we get out of debt, plus we have had AGM nonsense the last couple of seasons. When we see the real Alty next season I think we can push towards mid-table at leat.

As for crowds, full-time/part-time etc.: the fact is, we did average nearly 2000 the first time we won the Conference, and 5000 was "not unusual" in the late 1960's (when City and Utd were successful incidentally). In 1990/1, we averaged over 2000 from January when we looked like going up. And we have a higher base support than then.

Well, Shotton is effectively full-time, if we get a few more like him next season, I think we can challenge. As for people living within their means, I think it will be more than just Conference chairmen who have to learn to live within their means over the next few years. I'm afraid football crowds have probably reached their peak and will probably not be so high in the foreseeable future. I would expect some teams to return to part time, although there's a few big clubs below the Conference.

As for Graham Heathcote, his position should never have been in question, he has made us the best fully part time team in England whilst struggling with debt etc. and there's no reason why he should not make us even better from now on. I think personally that we should follow Crewe's example sooner than Newcastle United's.

Didn't we do more attacking football in our first Conference season? And get a few thrashings. Aren't Droylsden doing attacking football now?

I think Little probably makes more difference than you might think, even if he's not scoring. If he holds the ball up and passes intelligently, that means less time for the opposition to attack us.

Looking at it, we've averaged a point a game since Droylsden, which I think is ok, with some 6 pointers coming up.

I think it would be helpful if we could plan a conspiracy of our own and agree unanimously that Torquay were involved in a conspiracy, so we are in the mood for it when it is replayed!