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I think we have 4 games left , with 3 at home ...so all is not lost ... and we should continue to believe that we can still turn it round ... confidence and determination is key ...

But to do so will need us to continue to support the team and for both the team and the fans to believe we can do it ... If we all do that it gives us the best chance . What will not help is starting to post public criticism of one another ...as that will only diminish the belief that exists .

A lot of what goes on before and during a match ...is in the mind. We can do it working as a 'unified force' . The result against Bromley and the battling draw at MK proved it .

Jonty wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2026 9:52 pm I’ve just watched the goals. Seen those build ups all before.

We spent 20+ games arguing over formations and players and right backs and round pegs square holes. Have we now firmly established that formation and team selection has had little bearing on where we are. We are just not very good

We are very poor but if we had a right back and played 4 at the back we’d have ended up with more points than we do now.

I think the club should tell the players they are having their photos taken on Monday to show who played for us and it will be Angels or sinners

MisterPleasant wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2026 4:30 pm 2 - 2 Harper

Just watched the highlights - what a fantastic solo effort - dribbled round man after man from half-way, then slotted the ball into the corner. Wow!

Sorry, but I think that’s curtains now. You can’t lose to all of the teams around you (Harrogate, Crawley, Shrewsbury etc) and expect to stay up. We deserve to go down.

Salthouse Bridge wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2026 10:29 pm Wage bill rumoured to be £80 900 per week the 8th highest in Div 2

Didn't the board say it was about the 16th highest.

I'm happy to be proved wrong but if we had the eighth highest budget we wouldn't have been recruiting in the bargain basement or taking a punt on players with significant records of injuries. There may have been some calamitous decision-making but surely it was partly because we aren't cash rich. Cook going to Grimsby and Rose coming to us would be a big clue, similarly Harrogate bringing in Acquah who many people on here vilified tells you something.

boyliegladbach wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2026 9:25 pm We are down, if its a 48 year cycle, looking forward to doing it all again when I'm 100.

I'll be 120

We are where we are because we haven't had any long term strategy or stability across our six seasons at this level. We've had no consistent approach to recruiting managers or players. As a result of this we have been stuck in a firefighting mentality that's never allowed us to put bonus income from things like the Villa and Chelsea cup matches into anything other than paying off managers and signing more players.

I've never been naive enough to think we'd stay at this level forever. But I did think we'd use this once in a generation opportunity to slowly build some infrastructure that, if we did go down, would give us a better chance of returning to this level. That hasn't been the case unfortunately.

Was at the game and sad to say I think the Oldham game will be the final nail in the coffin, need to look now where we go in the future and build if possible for next season. Barnet a very strange ground, grass banking at one end and massive away bar area also toilets were spotless and stewards ok.

Matty wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:01 am We are where we are because we haven't had any long term strategy or stability across our six seasons at this level. We've had no consistent approach to recruiting managers or players. As a result of this we have been stuck in a firefighting mentality that's never allowed us to put bonus income from things like the Villa and Chelsea cup matches into anything other than paying off managers and signing more players.

I've never been naive enough to think we'd stay at this level forever. But I did think we'd use this once in a generation opportunity to slowly build some infrastructure that, if we did go down, would give us a better chance of returning to this level. That hasn't been the case unfortunately.

Our infrastructure is infinitely better than it was in 2020 the difficulty is that the money being thrown about by some national league clubs is substantially more than many clubs in league 2. Thankfully the National league will be coming under the financial regulator in 2027

I'd pull MJ aside, tell him he will be captain from this point on, that we will build the team around him next season, ask him what position he wants to play, tell him the majority of the team will be transfer listed and then get in a manager post-season that agrees with that.

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:13 am

Matty wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:01 am We are where we are because we haven't had any long term strategy or stability across our six seasons at this level. We've had no consistent approach to recruiting managers or players. As a result of this we have been stuck in a firefighting mentality that's never allowed us to put bonus income from things like the Villa and Chelsea cup matches into anything other than paying off managers and signing more players.

I've never been naive enough to think we'd stay at this level forever. But I did think we'd use this once in a generation opportunity to slowly build some infrastructure that, if we did go down, would give us a better chance of returning to this level. That hasn't been the case unfortunately.

Our infrastructure is infinitely better than it was in 2020 the difficulty is that the money being thrown about by some national league clubs is substantially more than many clubs in league 2. Thankfully the National league will be coming under the financial regulator in 2027

Is it ? we're basically acting as a non league club off the pitch ( that's debatable on it ) without our brilliant volunteers and few hardworking staff.
Our ground outside of football brings in little!
We have no junior teams to affiliate to our club and make the community involved, we could create say a junior supporters club, where they then buy into the club and their parents ( hopefully join in )
Most of the fan base is old, we need a club that has total involvement with the community, our engagement with the community/ Fans is [SwearFilter] poor no imagination and is left to Adam to try to do his best to get the message across, he does brilliantly but he shouldn't have to !
I could go on but really what's the point as Matty says we've squandered thousands of pounds through sheer unprofessional decisions it's a mess that needs addressing or we'll struggle even in the National league but we need positivity and a clear plan from the board, I won't hold my breath!

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:13 am

Matty wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:01 am We are where we are because we haven't had any long term strategy or stability across our six seasons at this level. We've had no consistent approach to recruiting managers or players. As a result of this we have been stuck in a firefighting mentality that's never allowed us to put bonus income from things like the Villa and Chelsea cup matches into anything other than paying off managers and signing more players.

I've never been naive enough to think we'd stay at this level forever. But I did think we'd use this once in a generation opportunity to slowly build some infrastructure that, if we did go down, would give us a better chance of returning to this level. That hasn't been the case unfortunately.

Our infrastructure is infinitely better than it was in 2020 the difficulty is that the money being thrown about by some national league clubs is substantially more than many clubs in league 2. Thankfully the National league will be coming under the financial regulator in 2027

Is it? I'd agree the matchday experience is a whole lot better, and a huge amount of credit for that goes to the hard work of the GMV. But in terms of the foundations that the club operates on not a whole lot has changed from six years ago. We do not have any form of a youth system. Teams in the NLN and Northern Premier have some resemblance of one.

Bigfathoss wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:30 am I'd pull MJ aside, tell him he will be captain from this point on, that we will build the team around him next season, ask him what position he wants to play, tell him the majority of the team will be transfer listed and then get in a manager post-season that agrees with that.

Agree his performances and interviews are always honest and Spot on !

Matty wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:31 am

Main Stand SeasonTct wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:13 am

Our infrastructure is infinitely better than it was in 2020 the difficulty is that the money being thrown about by some national league clubs is substantially more than many clubs in league 2. Thankfully the National league will be coming under the financial regulator in 2027

Is it? I'd agree the matchday experience is a whole lot better, and a huge amount of credit for that goes to the hard work of the GMV. But in terms of the foundations that the club operates on not a whole lot has changed from six years ago. We do not have any form of a youth system. Teams in the NLN and Northern Premier have some resemblance of one.

I agree not everything is better the points you make are valid but as shit as the ground is it does now meet league one standards where it was miles off it when we got promoted plus as you say match day experience is better.