wiseowl

What's The Trust's plan ?

Yes - the owner, and the sycophants around him, are clearly the problem but just look at the bland posting from a Trust rep a few messages back! Fans affected by the match day experience?! There was near mutiny and some very angry people where I was - and that was at a kiosk selling stuff. The pies were cold, the brews lukewarm, they didn't even know the prices of what they were selling! Several people went to another kiosk just to try and get a warm pie! And you know what was particularly galling? Stewards were openly saying "It's all the FLGs fault!" Morons who've been primed by the owner. The Trust have had their heads in the sand for far too long I`m afraid.

Sad isn't it. At times like this you are quite correct. It should be The Trust who step up to the plate, mobilise the fans and get something done. Instead, genuinely concerned fans are having to try and get people together in a boozer in Lees. I will attend the pub meeting (if it comes off) but I`ve always maintained this fragmentation of fans is damaging. I honestly have no idea what the Trust's agenda is any more. Didn't they indicate when they sent the letter to the owner that there would be a new approach because they had been too conciliatory in the past?

I have to admire your optimism, Frankie. Personally, think we will be well beaten. I can't bring myself to bet against us - otherwise I would have bet on both FGR (I said it well b4 the game) and Crewe to beat us - and had a healthy return. At the moment, it's very safe money betting on a Latics loss.

Lol - I was beginning to think the same i.e. powerful underworld connections, capable of IT sabotage against anyone disagreeing with the totalitarian state of BP!

There's all kinds of ways in reality. He could be "funding it himself" via a director's loan/s via money from "other sources". That would saddle us with debt - but without seeing monthly management accounts, we'd never know. Lenders could take security against future income e.g. gate receipts (!), money from cup prize money, league payments and even future transfer income - anything is possible where there is money to be made, whittles.

Really - did you go today? It wasn't just the useless performance - it was the whole infrastructure, catering etc. - this regime is killing us - wake up!

Lukers - you have my support and I will attend a meeting. I have no idea what it will achieve but I cannot stand by and just watch us stagger into the abyss. I honestly think we have a bit more about us than that. I actually felt like crying at today's game. Not an exaggeration - I looked around at the sparse, very quiet home crowd and watched as Crewe beat us without getting out of 3rd gear. Chris Porter looked like a masterclass compared to our shite. People around me were basically saying "Ah well... it's what I expected... the place is a joke etc." At half time people were complaining of cold pies for £3.50 - even the official car park on the hospital was charging £5 - when you can go 100 yards and park on basically the same (hospital) car park for £3. It's an absolute fucking shambles and the place is being run like a chimpanzees' tea party. I want some serious, direct action - but let's not pre-judge - hopefully many will attend your meeting and let's actually DO something.

Never seen a good game in windy conditions at BP - here's hoping it's not as bad as predicted

Just got my ticket - is the fans' bar open tomorrow in OEC ?

Which might just be the worst possible scenario! Solicitors can be notorious for making such issues even worse i.e. by getting bogged down in the legal detail - when all everyone wants is for common sense to prevail and our showpiece stand to be used for what it was originally intended. Hopefully, the solicitors will be "forward thinking" ones, who see ADR as the way forward - and quickly.

Thanks Andy - nobody could disagree with the sentiments. It's farcical that we have a "shiny new stand" not being utilised for maximum benefit. In the background, though, and others have said it, it's looking more and more like the Trust's position is becoming untenable with the club i.e. there are obvious synergies between the Trust and the FLG (despite best attempts by the Trust to now remain impartial!). The gloves are clearly off between the owner and the FLG, as quite a few predicted. This is a mess and needs sorting quickly. Mediation might be the way forward. Get someone involved who does not have a vested interest to broker a deal to get the Joe Royle standing fully utilised. Volunteer here if you want one.

What utter nonsense. The reason we went down was the "perfect storm" of a) Corney's legacy issues b) The new regime's total inability to engender good teamwork c) the ego of a new manager (Wellens) in not recognising the bleeding obvious and changing things when they needed changing and d) reasonable players simply not being arsed - probably connected to b.

We beat them 10-0 mate. Salford have paid us £1M to keep quiet, as the class of `92 were so embarrassed. Watch for a real quality signing by us ASAP on the back of the money. You heard it here first

Sorry - double entry !

"We didn't lose watersheddings...the council conned us out of it.. The club wanted to sell all the remaining land at sheddings,the stadium,greyhound stadium and car park, to a property developer for somewhere in the region of £4m that would have cleared our £1.5m debt and left us with money in the bank to start somewhere fresh.. The council made a counter off of £1.5m for all the land and the promise of building the club a new stadium..an offer the club took...no brainer really The council then sold the land to the very same property developer for upwards of £4m and the roughyeds never got the stadium they where promised..." The above quote is from a rugby league forum about the sad demise of Oldham Rugby. Almost criminal what happened to them. The point here is that ownership of the land/stadium is critical - and to be fair, that is what the FLG are focussed on (i.e. rather than buying out AL's team/badge as some are clamouring for). The FLG should retain their focus and they should have our full support in their aim. When the rugby became nomads, using the likes of Sedgley Park,. their core support virtually evaporated - and they have never recovered. They are currently on a promotion push but still struggle to pull in 400/500 home fans. Let's hope Latics do not go the same way as the rugby. First vital step - secure the stadium - here's wishing good luck to the FLG. P.S. they were regularly pulling in over 4,000 home fans at their own ground at Watersheddings

Very true. Plus there were some really committed, die hard fans doing their utmost for the cause (bucket collections at City, United etc.). Those type of supporters don't appear to be around anymore - though I`m happy to be proven wrong.

Whatever are you on about? I`m not an ex fan - were you at FGR yesterday mi old cock sparrer ?

I don't ever remember being so down and depressed about Latics. After getting back from FGR, I had a few in town and bumped into 2 former very staunch Latics' fans. Neither now attends (including one who did home and away, every game for years). Both talked along the same lines i.e. it just doesn't "feel the same" anymore, there's a massive disconnect with the fans and "the heart has been ripped out of the club". I`ve done a bit of soul searching and I realise I am starting to feel the same way myself. I can't believe that I am no longer enjoying watching Latics but...I`m not. I`ll go against Crewe but after that, who knows? So, has the heart been ripped out of our club? Can it ever be put back?

Thanks BP - but never been more disinterested in a fixture for a long time. Not going.

It's not a laughing matter, to be honest. With the fan base as divided as it is and IF the horror show trundles on and on, this could well be the beginning of the end of Latics as we know it. Beginning to think the only answer now is for the FLG to turbo charge their efforts. Don't see any hope anywhere else right now.

Agree it's early days but we've now gone over 4 1/2 hours without scoring a goal.............. against the mighty Stockport, Halifax and Forest Green. Yesterday FGR had 65% possession and we didn't register a shot on target or even get a corner. Let's hope you are right and this mini trend doesn't continue.

Ok - I`ll keep it short and sweet. Couldn't bring myself to bet against Latics even though I thought it was a nailed on FGR win at 11/10. That has to be the biggest pile of shite I`ve seen in a long time. I`m just back - why did I bother? We are in serious danger of dropping out of the professional ranks .

I think that moving Latics from BP - particularly as far away as somewhere like the AJ Bell (end) would sound the death knell. FFS we struggle to get the locals down Sheepfoot Lane!

Have to say that SOME of the stewards at Latics are walking a thin line. I`m a calm and passive man but I`ve nearly snapped on a couple myself with their attitude. To be balanced there are some good ones too but, when it undoubtedly gets heated this season some of the "little Hitlers" had beter watch out.