More PR suicide, but be there this Saturday

It seemed almost inevitable in a season of PR suicide and cock-ups that, given an allocations of tickets for the last, crucial deciding game of the season, Mansfield Town would go ahead and score yet another own goal.

To give season ticket holders two each but go back on a blatently obvious agreement with the SSA stinks big time as does the lack of thought on who may need the small number of seats available.

Just when you think this club cannot upset its long-suffering fans much more it sticks out another size 10 boot and puts its foot firmly in it.

Without a doubt anyone who stumps up for a season ticket is firmly entitled to first dibs on any big game ticket.

However, not everyone can afford to shell out all at once for their season’s football entertainment, but were assured by the club that they would be next in line if they joined the SSA - an organisation which has kindly funded the football club’s magnificent training facilities for them this season.

But, come the crunch, the club decided to give season ticket holders two tickets each and then put the rest (if there are any) on general sale. Thanks SSA for your support! Incredible.

After having a go at the club, it’s time to have a pop at the stayaways while I am seething.

I don’t care how big your grievance with Keith Haslam/Stephen Booth - there was simply no excuse for the pitiful size of last Saturday’s crowd for the crucial game against Shrewsbury.

I fully respect those who have chosen to go to away games all season only to make a point.

But the club is clinging to its League status by its fingertips and for less than 2,900 home fans to turn out last week suggests less of you care about its survival than we thought.

Understand this. Mansfield Town Football Club is the club you profess to support. They are in BIG trouble right now.

So if you only go to one game while Haslam/Booth are still there, make it THIS Saturday.

Mansfield Town Fotball Club is what is important here. Not politics or long-standing grievances.

The club was there before Keith Haslam, Stephen Booth, the current manager and the current players and will be there long after they have all departed.

But whether or not it is in the Football League can be helped by you this weekend.

I truly believe that if we can beat Rotherham at home this Saturday we will probably have done enough to stay up - win, lose or draw at Dagenham.

Obviously other results have to go our way and I think they largely will.

For those who stayed away last Saturday, thankfully each of the fans who did turn out made enough noise for two and provided a fantastic backing in a thrilling game that reminded you why you ever loved the sport.

Now is you chance to play your part. Get down there this Saturday and scream yourself hoarse.

You don’t want to struggle to answer your child’s question of ‘Daddy, what did you did in the Great Escape?’ in years to come do you?

Let’s give the lads every chance to win this one in an intimidating electric home atmosphere that will hopefully turn the following weekend’s day out in London into  less of a do-or-die situation.

In Leicester they have been arguing over whether to erect a statue of Ghandi or Gary Lineker.

If we stay up the argument will be over statues of Paul Holland or Mickey Boulding.

See you there on Saturday.

Blasting Bees, kissing Jefferson and planning statues

With the home hoodoo finally broken what price Barnet crumbling under the weight of a Stags goal rush this Saturday?

The Bees have little to play for and have lost four of their last five away games – the last two by a three-goal margin.

Surely they are ripe for a roasting? Confidence plays a big part in this young Stags’ side’s confidence and, after four points from two games, and provided they don’t concede early, I really think we could make it back to back wins for the first time this season.

And what a time it would be  to end another long hoodoo.

With away games at Stockport and Macclesfield to come after Saturday, three points are desperately needed.

Elsewhere the fixtures don’t look too bad for Mansfield. And let’s assume Stags are going to do the business and take al three points.

Accrington have every chance of beating Dagenham and Redbridge at home. That would pretty much make Accrington safe but leave the Daggers only two points ahead of Stags (if they win) with a game in hand for Mansfield and that final game between the clubs in London to come.

Bury could edge a 1-0 over a Notts County side that don’t score or concede many goals (one of each in six games) and Shrewsbury will probably still be left sweating on their safety after an expected defeat at Chesterfield.

Promotion-chasing Hereford should see off visiting strugglers Chester City and, if rumours are true, Chester are also under the threat of administration.

This threat is being whispered about on web sites but I can’t find anything solid anywhere on it so it may just be wishful thinking from relegation rivals, but you never know.

Finally bottom club Wrexham are at home to Macclesfield and I would take a draw there to keep both sides in the mire.

I can barely stand the tension right now. I can hardly think of anything else day or night than getting those points and achieving safety.

Paul Holland can have the manager’s job, the keys to the town hall and the right to ride a goat and herd sheep through the market place forever more as far as I am concerned if he keeps the club up.

With the takeover farce grabbing all the headlines, it is amazing what he has managed to achieve despite the distractions.

We should all be talking about the relegation battle and not Sky TV football soap operas (Has anyone actually watched Dream Team? I have asked around and can’t find anyone, though I am sure it was popular).

Maybe by the time we travel to Stockport, John Batchelor will have got the message that, no matter which way he tries to dress up his involvement, the Stags fans have said he is not welcome and will not back him.

And whether it’s James Derry and a new band of merry men or Mansfield District Council, Let’s hope there is someone waiting just over the hill on a white charger that is going to gallop forward and sort something out very soon.

Congratulations to the extra Stags fans who have turned out at the last three games and got behind the team so well.

Whatever everyone’s stance against Keith Haslam, the club is always going to be bigger than the present owner, manager or players. The only constants are the club and its fans and keeping the Stags in the League is the only goal right now. The rest can be dealt with later.

Even Keith Haslam’s arrival in the directors’ box did not distract Tuesday night’s crowd from their task of getting behind their side.

Doubtless the war against the present owner will continue. But there are times and places for battles within wars and now is not one of them.

Now is a time to give your everything to the players who are certainly giving their everything right now.

Let’s hope we see another rise in numbers through the gate on Saturday.

If we earn a penalty against Barnet it will be interesting to see who takes it.

Mickey Boulding is the established spot kick expert. But Jefferson Louis insisted on taking the kick against Wrexham on Tuesday and coolly found the net.

The pressure on him for that kick was immense and it provided the breakthrough in the biggest must-win game the club has ever known.

What a rush to see it hit the net! I might have kissed him if I had been close enough – thankfully I wasn’t (I was never confused as Al Murray would say)!

If Jefferson told me he was taking the next penalty I would not argue with him, If he told me red was green I would not argue with him. He is a big lad!

But if he can score one or two more goals of such magnitude they may measure him up for a statue alongside the Sir Paul Holland OBE one that will doubtless be erected at Field Mill if he can keep them up.

Keep everything crossed and let’s blast those Bees on Saturday.

‘2007/08 – A Relegation Odyssey’ ?

Blink and you will miss something at Field Mill right now.

The plot is thicker than a James Bond blockbuster and makes for unmissable drama.

 Don’t even go to bed at night for you are bound to have missed something by next morning.

The latest characters introduced into ‘2007/08 – A Relegation Odyssey’ have been Billy McEwan and now John Batchelor.

McEwan was reputed to be a prime candidate for the manager’s job but, despite two defeats over Easter, found himself missing out as faith (and the club’s League future) was placed firmly in the hands of caretaker Paul Holland.

At the same time Stephen Booth told the world that a deal had ‘in effect’ been done and James Derry was now in effective control of the club.

Cue cheers from delighted fans.

But then enter, stage left, Mt John Batchelor – seen as a pantomime villain in York, where he took the club into administration.

Batchelor appears to be one of the most colourful characters in the tale so far and is offering ‘whacky and zany ideas’ to bring in money.

One minute he was going to be part of the Derry consortium.

But Derry did not hear anyone shout ‘He’s behind you’ as Batchelor met up with the Stags’ fans ultimate ‘Dr Evil’ Keith Haslam to offer to go it alone. A real plot twist.

Meanwhile Stags prepare for the run-in with some ruthless chopping and changing by agent Holland who knows he has only one chance to get this right and that in 37 days he will either get the freedom of Mansfield or never be able to set foot in town again.

Six players have gone and two are due in as I write this, though deadline is ticking ever nearer. It’s great stuff and you really couldn’t make it up.

The last scenes of ‘2007/08 – A Relegation Odyssey’ could go either way.

Six very winnable points could be bagged in the next two games, Derry could finally take over, Batchelor may come in or Haslam stay on. Who knows?

This season has been a depressing movie so far with enough moments of genuine horror to make you choke on your popcorn – a real 18 certificate.

Certainly much of Monday’s Bury game needed to be watched between your fingers or from behind the sofa.

But this movie could still have a happy ending.

No one is writing 2008/09 – A Conference Odyssey just yet.

But Holland’s new-look cast have to do the business quickly – starting at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

Let’s go Dutch!

If Paul Holland doesn’t get the Mansfield Town manager’s job this week then he may as well take up a different career.

Asked to show his credentials for the job over two games he has masterminded two outstanding displays and renewed hope for survival.

But still the doubts remain from those running the football club.

Of course football, like life, is full of uncertainties and twists and they may appoint Holland tomorrow and he goes on to lose every other game between now and the end of the season.

But would a new boss - Billy McEwan seems a strong candidate -  come in and do better?

I am not a betting man. But if you play the percentage game, you have to say that Holland looks the safest bet, being someone already in the club, able to bring out the best of the players he has and play the sort of football the supporters want to see.

For all those spouting garbage about him being overweight, who cares?

As someone who has played in a friendly game against Holland in the last couple of years I can tell you he would run you into the ground all day still.

Holland was a consummate professional who only put on weight after seeing his career ended by a serious knee injury.

And what has happened results-wise while he has been number two to other bosses is immaterial. All that counts is what he can do as number one. You live and die by what you can produce yourself and so far what he has produced has been pretty impressive.

So for God’s sake let’s get on with it. This club needs some stability somewhere and if we are going to appoint Paul Holland let’s do it today.

If not let’s bring in the new man today and get him cracking as time is running out.

At least with Holland at the helm, no one is coming in blind and having to learn players’ strengths/weaknesses/temperaments within a few days.

We are not talking three-year contracts or anything here. We are talking about a 10-game quick fix rescue job. Longer term solutions can be discussed in the summer.

Let’s not dither and dally, let’s make a decision that could be one of the most important in the club’s Football League history.

The Dutch are known for ‘total football,’ let’s see what our Holland can offer.

The end is nigh, the time is now

THE relegation battle took a turn for the worse last night thanks to two odd-goal victories.

It is a fine dividing line and relegation rivals Stags and Macclesfield fell either side of it last night, opening a five point gap to safety.

Managerless Mansfield produced the performance we all know fully well they are capable of when they put their minds to it (isn’t that so exasperating?) and battered away at an excellent Hereford side.

But the Bulls escaped with all three points thanks to a well take free kick and Stags missing a penalty.

At Dagenham it was a similar story as the home side missed a crucial (for Mansfield) spot kick and Francis Green punished them with a winner 18 minutes from time to pull Macclesfield further away.

The pressure on those in power at Field Mill this week is enough to cause another earthquake.

They have to make sure they do the right thing regarding a managerial appointment and bringing in new players as anything other than the perfect solution could see them drop out of the Football League. And we need a club takeover – yesterday!

One thing is fairly certain – number one or number two – Paul Holland has to stay.

We simply do not have the time for a new broom to bring in his own people and start to assess what he has in the dressing room (he wouldn’t recognise them from a home match display to an away display anyway)!

The way the lads responded to Holland’s tactics on Tuesday was magnificent and, for all his critics, the truth is Paul is Mansfield Town through and through and has waited patiently for a chance to take the reins.

Maybe a Billy McEwan/Paul Holland combination could be the answer? Two people with history at the club who care?

Anyone who watched Saturday’s shambles against Rochdale and did not return for more of the same on a cold, windy Tuesday night against Hereford would not believe the difference.

Stags looked hungry and fired up and chased everything. Exactly what they should have for Billy Dearden on Saturday.

It was a crying shame his long association with Mansfield Town had to end in such a sickening way.

But the man has given everything for the cause, despite having his hands continually tied, and managed to maintain a sense of humour.

I am sure there have been many occasions he wanted to tell his critics the truth but was unable.

It would be very interesting if, having gone, he decided to tell all about how he has been forced to get by. But, being an old school gentleman, I can’t see it happening myself.

It is impossible to know what is going on behind the scenes at Field Mill for any of us.

Even fact can soon become fiction.

One minute there was a room full of press on Saturday night being told a new manager would be announced within 48 hours – then a denial that it was ever said!

Oh, there was also a mention of ‘possible good news this week on the takeover’ which, surprise, surprise, has so far again failed to materialise.

How can it possibly take this long to buy or sell a football club?

Mansfield Town Football Club needs some stability and needs it now.

If people really care then meetings must be brought forward, details hammered out, decisions made and paperwork drawn up around the clock.

Do it all over a liquid lunch if need be chaps. Because Ill Rosso could soon become Last Chance Saloon.

But let’s not let this football club die because we all had full diaries and were too slow in moving forward.

After this weekend at Bradford we have a week’s break and then four games in 11 days over an Easter week that currently promises little chance of a miracle resurrection.

Thank god we are away at Bradford on Saturday. Here’s to a steaming curry, a decent pint and three more away points. We can but hope.

Daffodils, leeks and brass bands!

Saturday’s relegation six-pointer at Wrexham is a mouthwatering prospect.

It comes at the end of a week which has seen five more vital home points squandered.

But, with Mansfield’s recent away form and the Dragons’ inability to find the net for three games, it gives the visitors every encouragement they can get something out of this one.

I know Billy Deaden is playing it down as just another game in which three points are at stake. But that if just to ease the pressure on his players.

The truth is a win put Stags seven points clear of the bottom side while a Wrexham win brings them breathing down our necks within a point.

Being St David’s Day, doubtless Stags and their followers will be subjected to an emotional out-pouring of ‘Welshness’ with much singing, brass bands and waving of daffodils.

Why is it every other country celebrates their national day with such passion and pride while most English people would struggle to tell you the date of St George’s Day?

Then you get the politically correct morons who say it should not be celebrated as it may offend minorities. Garbage!

Go to Leicester and see how the communities get together to celebrate Diwili or watch the English gulp down the ‘black stuff’ on St Patrick’s day. A party is a party is a party. But I digress.

I am sure it will be a highly charged atmosphere at the Racecourse Ground and feature the usual England v Wales terrace chanting between the two sets of supporters.

Singing and daffodils are fine. But let’s hope the only ‘leaks’ are in the home defence.

I always look forward to going to Wrexham for a few beers just up the road at The Sun Inn in Llangollen. With a great range of micro-brew ales at the bar and live music, it’s my idea of heaven. Three points would make it even sweeter.

This week could have developed very differently.

We can but dream. But, ‘hands up’ – who honestly believed the club takeover would go ahead this week and that we could get six points from the two big crunch home relegation battles.

In the end there was no change at the top – and no change at the bottom.

The club creeps nearer and nearer to relegation and yet those pushing to buy it do not seem to get any closer and the man selling it seems to continue to be in no hurry at all.

It is agonising. It is like watching a sick relative screaming out for help while the doctors discuss the case with their back to the patient.

What we need this weekend is the tonic of a win at Wrexham.

Half of the remaining 14 games are ‘relegation clashes’ against sides currently in the bottom eight. So Stags’ fate remains very much in their own hands.

But time and games are slipping through their fingers.

Jefferson Louis

Crucial week in a crucial month

I REALLY fancy us for six points in these next two home games.

The fantastic result at Darlington, the determination to end this poor run of six home defeats, the form of Jefferson Louis, the home debut of the impressive Keith Briggs and the chance for Jon D’Laryea to prove himself worth a run in the team in place of the injured Lee Bell will, I reckon, all add up to a return to home success.

Also both visiting sides – Chester and Bury - are struggling sides which makes both matches ‘six-pointers’ too.

It was a shame we didn’t get to play Stockport away on Tuesday at a time when our confidence was high and they had injuries and suspensions to deal with.

But, as I was suffering with man-flu I wasn’t too upset from a personal point of view. Serious stuff is man-flu and you can’t be too careful!

Just as fascinating as the onfield stuff right now, as ever, is the off-field stuff.

Barely has the furore of ‘Cigargate’ died down and we have whisperings coming out of the club that the takeover deal may be done and dusted inside two weeks.

Yes, I know our hopes have been raised several times before and this may all fall flat on its face again. But, from being recently told it was unlikely anything would happen before the end of the season, to this is a big boost.

It sounds like we are well on from the initial discussions and much nearer to dotting ‘I’s’ and crossing ‘t’s’ on a real contract.

We all know how unpredictable Keith Haslam can be but, imagine it, there is a possibility – however small – that we could be heading to Wrexham with another six points and a new owner and bright new future.

If it doesn’t happen then the current regime have to be realistic and start giving Billy Dearden the green light to sort contracts for next season.

League or Conference, Mansfield Town needs football players for next season and the wage bill would not drop that significantly if we had ambitions to get straight back up if we were relegated. Would it?

Bearing in mind what some of the top Conference clubs pay these days we surely can’t be expecting to pay significantly less.

In the worst case scenario of relegation, if we cannot commit longer to the handful of current players we would want to lead us straight back up again now then you have to wonder exactly what the club’s plans or ambitions are.

Some fans are already calling for Louis to be signed up. But Billy is sensible enough to wait a bit longer and see if his initial explosion fades like Barry Conlon and Martin Gritton last season.

Certainly so far Louis has been an absolute colossus.

He has given us everything he promised he would and has been Man of the Match or close to it in every game he has played. Let’s hope he can keep it going.

We said all along that February would be crucial with so many games to play. Well, with three ‘six-pointers’ in eight days, the most crucial spell of that crucial month is upon us.

Get behind them nice and early and help give the lads a leg up against a Chester side without a win in 12 matches.
 

New faces, Frantic February and flares

Okay, I will admit I am entering ‘Frantic February’ with a little more hope than I had two or three weeks back.

What we need more than anything this month is an injury-free run. If that happens I feel sure the results will follow.

Having two new faces is a massive boost.

Will Atkinson looked confident on the ball in his cameo appearance at Lincoln and judging by Jefferson Louis’ handshake strength this morning, I am sure he will knock a few defenders about in the Conlon/Stant mould and become a terrace hero if he can find the net as well.

With Simon Brown currently off the boil I really hope Ian Holmes gets his chance on Saturday.

The usual Moaning Minnies took great delight in the fact that Holmes didn’t walk into the club from non-League and immediately set the division alight which was never going to happen.

Billy Dearden was even mocked and ridiculed by some for bringing him here at all.

But Dearden has been around long enough to see qualities in a player that he can nurture and has patiently worked hard with Holmes on the training field for a few months and brought him on.

Now we are reaping the benefits as he has looked every inch the part in recent appearances and is surely due a run in the first team.

Gareth Jelleyman and Matt Hamshaw have also been targets of some supporters’ vitriol this season but are both playing too well right now to merit any flak.

So some of the jibes have been immediately turned instead at Dearden’s two new signings – Will Atkinson (too inexperienced) and Jefferson Louis (scraping the barrel).

Precisely who did you expect Dearden to bring in and how?

His hands are tied financially and we are lucky anyone will come here right now with the club in such a state of flux.

Let’s give the new guys a chance to show what they can do and not crucify them if they don’t have a dream debut.

What the club needs in February is our backing for them on the field, whatever is happening off it.

It was very interesting to hear the players talk this week about how much last weekend’s big home crowd helped them and lifted them.

I know it was the FA Cup and the ‘Prawn Sandwich Brigade’ would be out in force for a one-off.

But, surely among that big influx were some of those who have been staying away due to the Keith Haslam saga and may now be tempted to stay onboard and help cheer their club to safety.

So I will be very interested to see the attendance this Saturday against Brentford.

Let’s hope by Saturday night we are having a beer celebrating getting out of the bottom two.

By the way – which pillock threw the flare? At a time when the club is in constant talks with the Safety Advisory group about increasing the capacity and showing they are making Field Mill a safer place to watch football, what purpose did you think that served?

Either you are a mischievous Chesterfield fan or simply a prat. Save your fireworks for 5th November.

Cameras, cups and croissants

The national media descended on Field Mill this morning to meet the manager and players and prepare their previews of Saturday’s tasty FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough.

Usually there are only three or four of us at the twice weekly press conference. But it was standing room only today as Billy tried to answer the questions above the din of the clicking cameras.

Desperate for a coffee after a late night I had slipped into McDonalds on the way past and was gobsmacked to find the club had laid on tea, coffee and a variety of croissants for the media as I wandered in clutching my polystyrene McDonalds cup.

Wonder if that will become regular? Mmm I think not. But it was very nice all the same.

We had to sneak one to Lee Bell who is a birthday boy on the day of the big match. Wonder what would make his day extra special?

Midway through the interviews the door opened and two large men appeared with the FA Cup itself which was placed right next to my notepad on the table.

I remained as professional and undistracted as I could but the urge to pick it up with both hands, kiss it and do a lap of the room was absolutely huge.

The lads all enjoyed their moment in the spotlight as the papers and TV stations queued to ask them about the tie and the atmosphere was good.

But come Saturday the talking will all be over and it will be all about the football.

Stags’ chances of anything other than a hiding have to be slim. But you never know with this damn competition – just ask Swansea about certainties.

So it would be remiss of me not to have a little flutter on a shock victory – just in case.

After the euphoria of Chester away I don’t feel too down this week over the Darlington result.

Once again it was a close-run thing and again a top side failed to really turn us over.

Only Wycombe have done that from our division this season and that on a night when the weather played such a huge part.

Enjoy the game on Saturday, get down if you can or grab an early place in the pub.

Wear your lucky pants with pride (on the outside if neccessary).

But, above all, try to get out of work on Tuesday in time to get to Sincil Bank for a far more important fixture.

Take one glance at the current league table and you will realise just how much your football team need you behind them at Lincoln.

It could be a fantastic four days - hopefully.