Not got involved in this debate for a number of reasons (too much going on in the outside world) plus I have been travelling hundreds of miles to watch predictable defeats (more on that later) but a few have asked me my thoughts and it struck me today that not getting involved might be seen as me wanting Neil Tolson to be manager next year, which I don't.
Stop reading if I bore you as this could be a long one.
A decision was made to make Neil the manager until the end of the season. The announcement and the PR was handled badly, he set it off on the wrong foot with his "no promises" interview and results have shown that the decision was ultimately a mistake.
It didn't work out, although the consequences are harsh we all make decisions in life and business that don't work out. I disagree with Jim that he should not have applied for a job he wasn't qualified for, he has been the assistant for five years and must have felt that he could do it and he took his chance. The board felt he could do it and I don't doubt he has given his all.
In terms of performance they haven't been awful and we haven't been 5-0'd all over the show, the players have tried but they haven't put bodies on the line for their leader because there is no leader.
I've not seen arguments between the players and the management, although I don't doubt there may have been some if it was seen on Radio Robins. Bet they weren't too fierce as we are the quietest nicest team ever. It is all too predictable on the field, I was one of the drivers to Torquay on the bus and I didn't think we would get a thing and I'm not sure many others on it did either. That's fine at Eastleigh, their players man for man are 10 times better than ours and they pay for that, however it is not acceptable at what to an outsider is a game that we must and can win for me to know we just won't. If I have no hope, we're properly knackered!
I don't believe that Neil Tolson will be manager next season because as I understand it he is caretaker manager until the end of the season. Therefore he has to be appointed manager for next season. If he wants to put his application in then that is his choice. However applications have to be invited. If they are not invited then that is wrong. We have made one mistake, let's not do it again. It has to happen that way.
The second reason he won't be manager is that no manager should in my opinion stay after a relegation. It's not all his fault we have gone down but as well as sealing it he also played his part in getting us into the mess in the first place. You start the next season with this seasons baggage. I don't agree with Jezza's sub 500 crowd post because we no longer know all the people in the ground anymore like the olden days, it's not fair to try and speak for hundreds of fans. However I don't know anyone who does want him to have another crack at it.
And finally, when emotions are taken out of it his CV and results of this tenure are not good enough. I don't expect us to beat Eastleigh but we have had at least 5 games where we had our chance and have not taken one of them.
I don't doubt he has tried, he is a decent bloke with feelings for the club after 5 years of hard work and I wish him no ill but he would be a fool to take this on next season even if offered. It we go 1-0 down to Gainsborough on 20 mins the whole thing starts up again. It isn't worth it for anyone.
We need a new lift, a new manager and some different faces on the field. I'm utterly bored of seeing half of these players now (not all lads but I ain't listing them yet), new blood is needed. That lift gives a lift to fundraising as well and that is certainly needed. Talk of cancelling the race night, a fundraiser that people have donated to and needs support rather than a joyous "who cares if we go down" celebration, shows that raising money is way down the list and that has to change.
So I believe we will get a new manager, I won't allow myself to consider what happens if we don't.
Finally, I really hope that when we get a new manager he is given more respect than Lee Sinnott was from the off and is given some time to put his mark on it. I genuinely think this modern internet culture of the race to be first to make the smart quip or be outraged will be very sad if we don't afford the new bloke some time.
I can almost see the posts now of "what's he won" or "look at his record here five years ago". People set up against Sinnott and were forced to stick with it, even when we lost about 1 home game in 18 months and won 5-0 quite often people weren't happy. That worries me deeply, let's hope I am proved wrong (don't want to start a Sinnott debate!)
And even more finally, I really hope that we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater here. We have had (FA cup aside and a couple of good home wins early doors) a poor season culminating in a bad decision that has lead to a relegation that saddens me. The board made a mistake and boy have they been told.
However lets not forget that they are volunteers working for our club, fans like us who have been around years as well. This isn't some faceless £50,000 a year CEO that is under fire here. The work they have done should not be wiped out and they should at least be afforded the respect of answering some questions on Saturday. Likewise the CSH shouldn't be dragged into, that could well be the platform that allows us to get back up that we didn't have in recent years.
It's a mess but at some point we have to draw a line under it and move on and start to rebuild. Won't be just yet but we have to. That starts with a new manager for me....