bozman

Agree completely

Yes, there were several target figures but the lowest of those was £35k, which is still visible in the graphic on the tifosy website. £26K is a new figure.

As far as I'm aware they have announced the revised target but haven't said why it's been revised or what £26k will buy. I'd like to know that first, but agree that if it's not going to get us a decent scoreboard it would be better to carry on the campaign next season until the required amount is raised.

Shez said in interview today on Latics Player that we have friendlies arranged against Stalybridge, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday.

There is an interesting quote from him in that statement: "This will be the first managerial role where I have the freedom to select my own backroom staff and playing squad".

Doubt he'll be back any time soon. If Blackpool still owe us some money for him, Corney will have already allocated it towards finishing the new stand so he won't want to use it on Philliskirk instead.

In his pre Millwall interview Shez said that his decisions on who gets offered a contract and who gets released had already been made, and people couldn't change his mind with performances in the last 2 games. He also said that there were a couple of players who had not featured much under him this season but he liked them and they would be much more prominent in his plans for next season if he can persuade them to stay. On that basis I think these players, whoever they are, may well get a game on Sunday.

As others have pointed out, Shez has gone on record several times to say that we'll play a more attractive style of football next season, but I wonder if his success with this season's style, particularly at home, might mean he has second thoughts? Personally I think it will depend on how his recruitment goes over the summer. If budget restrictions prevent him recruiting the players he needs for free flowing football he may decide to revert to this season's style, which he knows can be implemented with less talented/creative players.

I went to collect my ticket refund today. The trust might be interested to know that I wasn't offered the option of donating to the Scoreboard fund at the ticket office. The full amount was refunded to my card before I had chance to ask about it. Not a problem for me , I'll just make an extra contribution through the tifosy site, and probably divert some of it to Playershare. But if that's happening regularly, I'd imagine that the scoreboard funs is missing out on a significant amount of potential revenue.

Ken Anderson is Holdsworth's partner. He's a former football agent who sounds like a bit of a dodgy character. He was banned from being a company director for 8 years in 2005 for, amongst other things, diverting company funds to his personal accounts. Him and Holdsworth are not getting on well apparently. He's saying the new manager has been chosen and will be announced this week whilst Holdsworth is saying no decision has been made yet and one isn't imminent. Already looking for new investment and openly admitting the budget will probably have to be scaled back as season ticket sales look unlikely to meet their forecast. As you say, it's likely to end in tears.

The more I read about Bolton,the more I think any manager currently in a job would be mad to take it. It sounds ominous that they are already looking to find another investor to put another £3 million in.

Regardless of whether Shez would want to speak to Bolton or not, he made it abundantly clear several times in that interview that he definitely hasn't spoken to them yet. On that basis, given the Bolton chairman's comments, it would appear that he isn't going to be their next manager.

Davies said something along the lines of, the 2 owners couldn't agree with each others choices so they had decided to go in a different direction, someone not on their original short list.

Unusual to publish the released list 2 games before the end of the season.

Interesting that Brown ruling himself out hasn't resulted in his odds lengthening - still 11/8 with sky bet and 2/1 with bet victor.

Wow. Makes our trials and tribulations over the past 18 months seem fairly trivial in comparison.

Sounds like Brown wanted to go but Bolton couldn't find the compensation money required to get him. Southend fans not impressed it took him about 8 weeks to rule himself out and his popularity has suffered as a result. If he has a bad start to next season he might find himself sacked anyway.

He's done brilliantly for us but he genuinely seems to believe he can do better and believes that his stint here has demonstrated that(look at his twitter feed). If we do sign him it will probably be just before the start of the season when a better offer has failed to materialise. He won't leave it until January to start getting paid this time. His wife won't let him with another baby on the way. It was interesting to hear him say that it was Corney who signed him and he didn't meet Shez until he got on the coach to Shrewsbury.

Good interview that. Refreshing to see a footballer give honest, direct and comprehensive answers without trying to dodge any of the questions or regurgitate bland platitudes. For what it's worth, I got the impression he'd be more than happy to stay with us, if we could come up with a good enough financial package. But he's realistic enough to understand that his demands are likely to be beyond our means.

The Mirror reported that he was in the running last week. Looks like some money has gone on him recently.

@Matt_Chambers_'s Tweet: https://twitter.com/Matt_Chambers_/status/725620840369414145?s=09 No expression of or denial of interest from Shez. Says it's just a rumour.

Drifted to 3 /1 now. Brown still favourite. I reckon Brown will ultimately prove disruptive enough at Southend to make them willing to let him go for a compensation sum that Bolton can afford. It's his dream job and it's just around the corner from his house.

Latics qill gaun peinruin nrxtt[seafag Started off ok, then went rapidly downhill - a bit like our 2014/15 season.

Uwe Rossler would be a good option for them in some way - i.e. experience of the division, out of work, so more likely to take on such challenging circumstances. And experience of working under tough conditions at Leeds. Although his recent record hasn't been great. There is also an article in the Daily Mail saying they are preparing a formal approach for Phil Brown.

Yes, the release clause does sound ridiculous, but when Brown went there he' d been out of work for a while and was pretty desperate for a job, so he'd have probably signed anything the Chairman put in front of him. If true, it's a smart move from their Chairman. Another club only ever wants your manager when he's doing well, so why not put a ridiculous price tag on his head if you can as a starting point for negotiations.