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I could not make the final (because of work).

I only mentioned the incident because someone else mentioned it in the thread about what happened after the Torquay game. And no, I wasn't there, that's simply what I heard. I might ask Ian about it, who was there for some of it at least.

You can e-mail me at cooperhugh@hotmail.com if you want.

Hugh

Firstly, ending our losing run against Woking - at least 5 and possibly more last time we were in the Conference - I remember losing 7-1 when one Clibe Walker was playing.

Also, Woking had won 2 and drawn once in their last three games, most recently ending Crawley's four match winning run with a draw, and before that beating Weymouth away.

Obviously I would have liked a win, but Woking are no mugs, and were startingto look like the Old Woking, some dangerous players on the break.

At least Graham will have a chance to watch Droylsden before we play them. I presume Karl will play. I gbenuinely think that Graham are better coaches than Dave and whoever else he's got, better tactically and whatever,  and I think it will be of more benefit to us knowing about Karl than it will be for Karl to know about us, although he will surely improve their defence.

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.

Whilst their cup record is obviously something they can be proud of (or perhaps they should be dissapointed they were non-league for so long), their record is no longer relevant, any more than Northwich's "oldest ground record surely? Likely enough other former non-league teams have beaten as many league teams in the FA Cup as a non-league team - after all Spurs won it as a non-league team.

I am encouraged to see that Craney has been playing every game for Swansea and doing well. The transfer seems certain to happen now.

Is there any way then that Accrington can do us out of our money? If there really is a clause in his contract saying that if any club offers one hundred and fifty thousand pounds he must be allowed to speak to them, surely that makes it that much harder for them to muddy the waters by involving other players in the deal.

I know their first offer to us was derisory and that they were highly incompetent over Robinson, but will they really try and cheat us out of 75000, and more importantly, can they?