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.