eddyblue

Yes. Still remember being amazed at Bobby's skill. It was 5-2 after being 2-0 down IIRC

I hope that is a wind up Fantastic gesture

likewise. I have sent an emailasking for info, but the bank details for the new scheme are the same. If the donations go to the same account as already set up that's fine and I will set up my s/o but would appreciate clarification. Sorry if i am missing something obvious here

+1

Completely agree Midsblue. 1958,1959,1970 the club survived and became stronger. It would not survive relegation this time

Yes I will go - but with a heavy heart. It is 50 years since I first attended BP and caught the almost incurable latics bug. Never been nearer to giving up than now though

Agreed and I am finding it more and more difficult to bother keep going to matches. So as things are now in reality either we need a miracle performing manager* or a billionaire buy out. Football's structure these days means a millionaire is laughably poor to drive a football club at any level forward except possibly Man U & Arsenal. The current, rather than eternal medicrity is almost inevitable and the best to be hoped for is as you say a Scunthrpe situation under a competent manager (which I believe DP will turn out to be). It is very depressing for a lifetime Latic but what else can be done *At interview Joe Royle was apparently told that"Jimmy Frizzell worked miracles, but we are looking for something different"

Massive pity but in the absence of a billionaire buy out the town of Oldham will get the type of club it merits on the basis of actual support much as I regret to say it

He had 2 decent seasons then 2 pretty poor from memory - he had to sell the best players. The difference was Latics were in the 2nd division (championship) which was enough to keep people interested eg automatically 3rd round FA cup. Also there were no messageboards.

Its down to the manager. An outstanding manager will turn things round, even with limited funds note especially Brian Clough in his first managerial job at Hartlepool. Latics successful times have been under Jack Rowley (1st time) Jimmy Frizzell and Joe Royle. Well meaning though some of the other managers may have been (eg Andy Ritchie) none have been in the same class as those three. It is still too early to judge DP but there needs to be some good news and results soon or I fear this time the downturn could be for good, due to the completely different and imo unfair current structure of football

Often try to persuade lapsed latics fan mates to return, and last season a mate came with me to the Huddersfield 1-1 home draw. He hadn't been for years but the reaction was - same old crap. That is what the faithful are up against, try as we might. It is a noble idea, but ultimately it is a winning team playing decent footy that brings in the crowds. Harry's cryptic message is interesting though. Please the God of footy there is some positive good news on the way

not suggesting any underhandedness at all, merely that before parting with a valuable assett - many acres of developable land - any reasonable person would want a concrete sustainable offer. I admit it is speculation, but so are statements such as "the farmer doubled the price". I happen to believe that if the price had been right and the money available the deal would have gone ahead

I guess the farmer pulled out because the offer was all style and no substance. An ominous portent of the current situation if correct. As an earlier post hinted, the big bad farmer wrecked the plan because he would not give away land without some guarantee of payment whereas all us true fans would sell our granny just to keep Latics going wouldn't we?

But in the 70's 80's we were promoted from this division 73/74 then remained in the then second division. The manager who achieved this the great Frizzell was sacked for the achievement!!! unbelievable but true. Luckily Joe Royle pushed us on. Relegation would be an absolute disaster and I agree "the last camel that broke the straw's back" In 45 years plus of watching Latics the present time is becoming for me the worst ever. There seems no hope or ambition anymore. I am rapidly losing interest. The so called diehards would drop to 3000 or fewer in my opinion. I won't be there if we go down and if that makes me less than a true, loyal etc. supporter then so be it. The "product" seved to us "customers" at the moment is crap

The worst times in my Latics supporting career were the late 1960's between Bates/McIlroy to Frizz, which saw us relegated to Div 4 with an appalling team. Frizz took Latics from utterly dire to the second division, and kept us there. Despite that, towards the end of his time in the job there was a bloke in the now demolished Ford stand who spent all match shouting "Frizzell out". There will always be moaners. I believe it all boils down to the manager.Trouble is appointing the right manager is easier said than done.I thought at first that Shez would bring back the good times but look how disappointingly that finished. I think DP is a good appointment but we can only wait and see. If he is, then promotion should within a season or two, be a realistic possibility. Latics, whatever anyone says, have never been that well supported but in recent history (1970 - 1995 ish) have punched above their weight and been, in my opinion anyway, a level above the likes of Stockport, Rochdale Crewe etc - no disrespect to them. There has also been a feeling of ambition, which seems to have gone now. The worry for me is the possibility that, as CJ argues, the club have indeed settled for bottom two division existence in which case I regretto say the dream would be well & truly over for me and the reason supporting them would have gone.

donation made what a sad burden for lidds and his family. condolences at this difficult time

Depending on your point of view The redevelopment of BP was always a pipe dream on a scale last seen in the infamous Ken Bates “Europe in the 1970’s” days. It has been accepted that the glory days are gone forever and League 1 is the natural level of OAFC as it has been since the 1930’s, aside from the Frizzell and Royle years. Therefore a capacity of 12000 is more than enough. A deal has been struck whereby OMBC takes over BP again with a view to development/sale and meanwhile funds the construction of a modest stadium at Failsworth and agrees to reimburse TTA their losses. OMBC eventually make a profit on the BP land so the ratepayers are appeased. TTA have kept their promise to leave OAFC in a better state than when they took over. Secretly they breathe a sigh of relief as they head out of town. or The current recession means the BP plans would be on hold indefinitely, but TTA want to drive the new era forward. A completely new stadium is now the top priority to enable planning for the championship to start sooner rather than later. They have lobbied OMBC who have now agreed to assist with funding the construction of a compact state of the art modern stadium on Council owned land in Failsworth. TTA have really taken to the cheerful Latics fans and will, of course, ensure that the stadium design allows easy expansion to 16000 (or more) The development of the surrounding land provides other income streams for OAFC to allow future self - sufficiency. TTA saved Latics from oblivion but nobody can expect them to keep throwing their cash at Latics. I fear they are realising, like Ken Bates eventually did all those years ago, that the people of Oldham are, by and large, not interested in the football team. Even within the small numbers who still support the club, there is significant degree of cynical negativity. A 12000 seater stadium at Failsworth could be as good as it gets. It is all about keeping the dream alive for me, and has been since 1958 but on the face of it the Corporal is right about lack of ambition. He is also right about success on the field bringing in bigger crowds, but apart from promotion seasons and first season in higher divisions, the league attendance always drops back to 5000 or so - the long run in the old division 2 shows that. I hope the dream is not dead.

Joe has already started the clearout that is needed ready for a drastic rebuild/rethink. i was gutted for shez but I think the task was beyond him so I back the TTA decision

both with good management. I hope Joe gets his chance next season. otherwise god knows where latics go from here

or are they just not good enough which is just as bad.

hope so. Joe has the experience authority and knowhow to rebuild from scratch, which I reckon is the only way forward now.

Spot on. It beggars belief that people will not accept the facts. The rules were introduced to reduce the risk of serious injury and death to spectators. All accept that at the (all too rare at Latics) exciting moments, people temporarily stand. But if people insist on standing all the time then they risk being thrown out, the stewards and club have no choice.

that is bang on i fear

I'm puzzled about Lewis too. looks a good prospect to me. Fleming, Taylor, Eardley, Lewis, maher (maybe) Stephens ? Lee? Gregan short term. Who else is worth keeping? its tough being a Latic

From depressed to elated. Brilliant post Prozac brought back the fantastic memories.