wiseowl

Bit simplistic, Dave. Agree you can't open the floodgates for all the defamation that goes on via social media , for example. Most legal professionals believe, however, that legal aid should be available via "a test" - the apparent injustices of the "McLibel" case highlighted the problem (whereby huge corporation sues little you and me - and you still couldn't get legal aid to defend yourself). It's all very technical and boring though!

This is spot on - I`m no lawyer but I have been involved in libel cases. The problem is, that usually, you cannot get legal aid to pursue this type of claim. Personally, I wouldn't call his bluff - The Trust should seriously consider pursuing him. At the very least a pre-action letter from a solicitor asking him to withdraw his defamatory statement, apologise for it and refrain from making any more (pointing out the dire possible financial consequences of any form of defamation) should stop him being a potential thorn in your side in the future.

Thanks Andy. As it was an "open letter" from the fans (via the Trust) that was sent to AL, it's strange that it's not an "open letter" in reply. Is it AL who has specifically requested that the full reply is not published please or was that a Trust decision?

Mr K lighten up, mate - my post was tongue in cheek - and I`m sure Clifford's response to it was too

I remember the emotion (and publicity) generated when the fans paid for the electronic scoreboard message, "PLEASE JOE - DON'T GO" (Joe Royle had been approached by City from memory - he stayed at us for a while longer). Now, we have the LED perimeter advertising hoardings and some tech savvy fans I`m sure. We just need someone to put a virus into the system controlling the advertising hoardings such that "PLEASE MARCO - JUST GO" features in lights non-stop throughout the game.

You know they convicted the wrong man in Peter Sutcliffe don't you You may say fickle, simply, but I view it as tactical - I`m just fed up of all the in-fighting amongst fans - it's preventing us addressing the real aim.

Mike - fully understand and respect your decision. One of the issues regarding Latics is that Oldham is not a rich town and I`m sure many fans purchase a season ticket simply because it offers them an adult entrance fee of around £12 for each match (early bird offer). A substantial saving as against POTD. I will not renew until sanity returns in some way, shape or form under the present owner or a new one. I`d rather POTD to be honest, even if it does cost me far more eventually (i.e. if sanity returns and I end up attending every home game). Presently, in the absence of a united front amongst supporters, it's the best way I can think of to send a message to the Chairman. I`m getting the feeling, though, that people taking my stance are becoming somewhat of a minority (we won't know until final season ticket sales are published).

Don't be too sure deyres - everyone loves a David v Goliath story - and I`m sure some Latics fans somewhere will have the right media connections.

If this scenario ever arose, it would be prudent to ground share with Oldham Rugby as a starter for 10. You would then mobilise the fan base of both e.g. get as many tradesmen/women as possible to give their time and labour for free regarding routine maintenance, have volunteer matchday stewards, arrange our own catering etc. Together with other prudent cost cutting, you may just have a chance (although I suspect we'd be back to using 3, maybe only 2 stands, for a while - again to save on outgoings). It's a risky scenario simply because I`m not sure the Oldham public are easily enthused, so subsequently building upwards would be hard.

... and this was always going to be the problem. A hard-core fan base as small as we have known for many years - and we are hopelessly fragmented. I`ve made my peace with the Trust, so will watch with interest and see how they lead, on behalf of the fans, on matters generally. I`ve always maintained that the televised game is a heaven sent opportunity for some sensible publicity about the issues - even if it only involves, for example, an articulate Trust member going in front of the Sky cameras and outlining the position regarding a) the concerns b) the letter and c) the lack of response from the owner. Fans attending the game could then get on with supporting the team - and suitable banners could relay the same consistent message the Trust had delivered on camera. There's only one home game left after Mansfield - and then the season's over - and most of the impetus will be lost.

It's very poor form by the owner not to have responded. I do wonder whether he is close to appointing a director/s (remember the non-exec positions advertised for fans' rep/s?), with a view to then holding a proper board meeting ASAP thereafter (including the Trust rep) and hopes that will quell some of the (now somewhat muted) anger. It's about the only logical conclusion I can come to - it still doesn't excuse him not responding and telling us that (if it does, indeed, turn out to be the case).

And many would have agreed with you. The silly sideshows that have gone on this season have masked the fact that it would have been relatively easy to get out of this "pub league" at the first attempt. The standard is bloody awful and my worry now is that if we get stuck here for a while (and the owner is as unpopular and difficult to work with as many suspect) then we will come down to its level. All else aside, I honestly don't think I could watch the dross in this league for too much longer. Just a little stability this season and it could have all been so different.

Feck me............ this is the answer to all our ills then. Let's join such a syndicate........ win millions............ and buy our club. Trust - get onto it now - I demand !

You're quite right Mr K BUT anyone that is willing to pay "a year in advance" (i.e. get a season card) is surely, to some considerable extent, endorsing the "bad product"? The product provider could quite legitimately say, "you're saying what I am providing is shit and yet you have paid me for the next 20 odd pieces of shit which I am going to deliver to you over the next 12 months or so"

Right over my head that one, sorry. Unless..... was he on Soccer Saturday? He certainly never mentioned he was...

I do love football - it's amazing how 2 people can see things completely differently! Other than the second half against Yeovil, the football under Scholes was as bad as I`ve seen. In fact, Morecambe at home was appalling. A blind man with a stick would have known that Stott is no full back. Playing him there may have destroyed his confidence because he got roasted time and again by the mighty Morecambe. One of the most baffling team sheets/tactical performances I have ever witnessed at Latics. We were literally all looking at each other in the stand and scratching our heads that day i.e. "Did this fella really play regularly for England or is the man on the touchline his twin brother?"

Just had the opinion of my Swindon Town mate, whose opinion I value (he's an ex semi-pro himself and football through and through). Said we were poor for the first hour with the "spine" of our team looking weak. Said our central defence was slow and couldn't cope with speed/power. Despite us taking the lead, he thought it would be a comfortable 3 or 4 to one victory. Then said, we looked a changed team later in the game; much brighter and a game they should have won comfortably, they could quite easily have lost. Wondered why did we not look "up for it" for an hour? So, he says the "first hour team" - poor lower table team; the "last half hour team" - play-offs for sure. Sounds like a game of three thirds - and we were great for one of them! P.S. also said glad they never signed COG (apparently he was a target) - thought he was a passenger and looked as though he should retire.

Much ado about nothing, me thinks. PS states several times that he knew what he was going into i.e. regarding facilities commensurate with a team in the basement league. The "play him" scenario just happened the once and it looks as though he jumped at the chance to go on the back of that! Surely he could simply have made a stand and said to AL - lay off, or I`m gone? More than anything his body language did not indicate a huge and irreconcilable clash with the owner - more a sense of he realised pretty quickly he was not manager material. Very telling that he said, in the background, at one point that it was "easy to change a game as a player" (i.e. but not as a manager, in his case). Steve McManaman was quite a laugh really - you certainly wouldn't take him seriously would you! Was great when he said something like, "well no managers going to come in at a club like that and it's win, win win is he?". Erm.............. Pete Wild did mate as soon as PS went. Glad I`ve seen that - just re-inforces my decision never to have subscribed to shit TV like BT or Sky.

Thank you. Jeez - I`ve just studied the table - shows what a pivotal game this was. Had we won, we'd be sat nicely in 8th, with a game in hand on the 7 above us and on the next 4 below us. Sounds like we didn't really "bust a gut" today when that was what was needed?

Well - amazingly, I managed to maintain self-discipline and keep up my boycott. I met my mate from Swindon for a pint or two before the game - and then I went home (yes it was hard). I can't speak with him for a while as he's driving back and no "hands free" method available. Those that went - did Swindon look a good side please? (he reckons they are going up via playoffs!).

I think this is one of the major points of contention i.e. so when is the right time? Is it when we get to a "Bury like" situation whereby things are so dire that there is precious little time to mobilise anything effective? (have a read of Bury's forum/s and see the farcical situation around "Forever Bury" (their Supporters' Direct endorsed organisation) - it would be comical were it not so serious. We either think there is a problem with the ownership, or we don't (and there may well be these 2 camps - judging by previous comments regarding a Facebook Group of fans). If we do think there's a problem, then the season's end is nigh - IF the fans (or a section of them) have the stomach to do anything meaningful, then surely it has to be before the season's end? - and the considerable "free television publicity" offered by the upcoming televised game seems like too good a chance to pass by. I had a meeting with Andy b from the Trust the other day and (off my own back) gave an undertaking not to comment on Trust matters on here anymore - and I will keep that promise as I appreciate they are a force for the good of the fans. In fact, I apologise if I have given the appearance of being "anti-Trust" previously - they have my support. A real benefit generally, from a fans' perspective, would be to unite us all. Is this Facebook Group, for example, seriously supporting the owner or is it just one leading individual's view? If there are large numbers supporting the owner presently, I`d say we're on a hiding to nothing. We simply don't have a large enough fan base for us to be split. It would allow AL to simply say, "This % fully endorse what I am doing" whilst "That % over there are against me despite me giving them a free scarf - I just don't understand it". United we will win. Divided we won't.

I wasn't making excuses - just passing on the info from a dyed in the wool Swindon fan. He says they are playing very well - best they've seen under Wellens. I spoke with him again an hour ago (he's the reason I may break my boycott i.e. to catch up with him) and he's says, incidentally, that they are unbeaten in last 5 games? Just checked their last 5 results on their site, Wardie, and it reads DWWDD ?

No I didn't - I tried joining again umpteen times - was refused. Used a different name recently - and was accepted.

Really? You do nothing but ask questions (or pass disparaging remarks) about whatever I post - I provided a detailed reply - and you just come back with more questions. So, it's impossible to see out to a sensible conclusion on a message board. I agree with you that I may not have learnt from past mistakes e.g. a message board is probably not the best forum to debate - people misinterpret things, get the wrong context etc. so I will take Andy B's (and your) advice and steer clear of this kind of debate now. I look forward to meeting Andy later today.

Have a mate who is a Swindon fan. Says they are playing magnificent football at the moment. Swift movement, sliock passing and defensively sound. Ominously sounds like the purple patch football Wellens managed for us for a few games. He says they've recently hammered Morecambe, played Bury off the park at their place before all Bury's woes started (won there 3-1) and were by far the better side at Newport last game in a 0-0 draw. Tough game, this - I need to decide whether to go after boycotting last 2 home games.