mattsgrandad

And therein lies the biggest challenge. With no money in the kitty and a growing reputation to match, we'll struggle to hold on to any decent players and become resigned to fielding players unable to get a contract with any other club - quality drops and we get into a downward spiral. We will see virtually a new team at the start of every season and a new year influx of temporary loanees. Any manager at OAFC will need an effective contacts network (I'm guessing that was one of PD's perceived strengths when he was offered the job - not sure that it has been as effective as was thought) and a massive slice of good fortune if things are to improve.

Agreed - one side of the story isn't necessarily a fair reflection of events. I'd be inclined to think that the events of Friday were a culmination of what's gone before and let's face it - we've all had those moments when a seemingly innocuous event triggers an OTT reaction in us as simmering resentments come to the surface - a bit like the Paul Scholes reaction to being outplayed for most of the game last Saturday.

I would sum up today's game in one word .... disappointing. Disappointing to see so much posession but no ideas. Disappointing to see two wingers who didn't seem keen on taking on defenders and apart from maybe two efforts, fail to deliver a single quality cross Disappointing to see players receiving the ball in stationary positions Disappointing to see no six yard box play Disappointing to see no substitutions (until the final minutes) - if nothing else, a substitution at least tells the fans the management don't like what they see. The final disappointment is the realisation that we have a team of journeymen footballers without a single player to excite or inspire me. The championship may be the manager's aspiration - but it won't be with the Latics.

Overall reaction is positive - the club clearly have recognised the need to do something different and have introduced a pricing structure and payment system that encourages both ST & PAYG sales. My only gripes (come on now, we are after all Latics fans so there has to be some gripe or other) concern: 1. Senior citizen prices - pity they didn't adopt the example of many other clubs and gave the concession at age 60 rather than 65. I'm sure that would have generated a good response on ST sales. 2. ST - I would have liked a 'non-reserved' ticket at (for example) 15% reduction on the standard ST price. This would give guaranteed admission but not a reserved seat - useful for those fans who like me attend matches with PAYG fans but want to sit together. Still, well done to the Board and let's hope their initiatives are reflected well in pre-season ST sales.

Maybe PD can use the 'compensation' fee to treat the lads to a night out at the dogs

....and that just about sums up our luck since the turn of the year.

+1 Plus, correct me if I'm wrong, but to win a game you have to score at least one goal - remind me again about our goal scoring feats of late.....

stronger common denominator = economic downturn even stronger common denominator = no investors

These were posts in the 'Tranmere costs....' thread before the 'sale' of Stephens No doubt the players will be paid after Monday night's game income is received but this game is likely to be our last home game capable of generating any meaningful income so unless we received a significant cash injection from Stephen's departure then we really are in trouble.

I suspect the 'attraction' (to Skipton) was the potential to raise awareness of the brand rather than to attract funds. The fact that there appears to have been a relatively low take-up suggests they are not achieving that objective - hence pull the plug before the cost of adminstering the scheme loses them money. Perfectly sound business logic imo. PS I would imagine the scheme was set up with the football authorities on a 'trial' basis and the company's termination is covered by an appropriate legal clause in the agreement. Whether the individual clubs understood that is another question.

Only a football club (or a public body) could express "disappointment" over another business taking the unsurprising view to drop an unprofitable venture. Pity the Latics board weren't as financially astute in their dealings over the ground redevelopment/move.

That financial reasoning unfortunately applies to every Latics game - leads to the more pertinant question - Who's going to pay the players wages? I'm assuming the TV money from the Tranmere game will shore up the March month-end but after that - ???

Can't see where the next victory (or even a goal) will come from. With the extra games we've played (between 1 and 3) more than the teams beneath us it's looking increasingly likely we'll be in 20th place by Easter - and then it's the relegation battle. I'm not confident.

Until the 88th minute..... ....and we all know it won't be us that score! and I would be more than happy to be eating a generous portion of humble pie later tonight if I'm proven wrong

Despite the disappointment of losing, the performance was a big improvement on previous home games. Bad mistake for the goal - players should know to play to the whistle rather than assume an offside decsion will be made. Brighton had one chance and they took it - we had a couple but don't have the natural goalscoring ability to convert the chances into goals and results. I still don't think we're in danger of being sucked into the relegation fight but the longer we go without scoring, the more desperate our position could be.

We don't realistically have a choice. We go with the squad as is until the end of the season.

Having read through the posts it seems to me that we (Latics fans) have to accept the reality of the recall: 1. Amos is needed back at OT to provide the support that the mancs (think they) need 2. Brill is the best (only) option we have to slot into the team 3. We are an average 3rd division team so any expectations for top-class experienced goalies should be quickly eradicated. We're no more likely to attract (or afford) an experienced class goalie than we are to attract a decent striker. Now for an opinion: I actually think the recall is best all round. If the loan keeper had been anyone other than the Man Utd loanee, PD would have rotated the goalkeeper as he would with outfield players and "rested" Amos to allow some confidence rebuilding. With a bit of luck (and some considerable improvement), we tighten up the midfield and back four to prevent the pressures that have led to recent defeats and who knows, we might just rediscover our goalscoring touch and secure our future in this division.

A tough ask? - nye on impossible I would say!

Resign - blaming the players for not understanding Scottish!

Agree with the first part but levelling off? If no goals in 9 hours plus of football is levelling off, I'd hate to think what would happen if we went into a downward spiral!

Interestingly enough, the article on the latics website only mentions players & management staff - doesn't mention the 'others' (office staff; ground staff etc). I wonder if the players/management representative bodies (PFA and the LMA) have stepped in with some cash (loans of course). If so, only a temporary respite as that cannot (and probably will not) be repeated month after month and eventually would have to be repaid anyway.

I was aware of his stated position regarding administration .... but, his opinion might have changed given the recent results and whatever situation is causing the alleged cash flow problem Not going on Monday but hopefully someone reading this post might be and feels inclined to ask the question.

This could be the beginning of the end (to quote a well used phrase). To hear about cash flow problems makes me suspect that the club were relying on today's receipts to cover February's wage bill. Today's defeat and the manner of the defeat is surely going to further deplete the coffers for the home games in March and, even allowing for the TV money from the Tranmere game, the cash flow position is only going to get worse. Anyone got any views as to whether SC will call in the administrators sooner rather than later in the gamble that the team will still be able to achieve the safety target of 60 points (50 points nett after allowing for the 10 point deduction for going into administration).

It's great to hear of any individual who's managed to turn their lives around to the betterment of themselves, their family and the community in which they live. Such a shame though that in this instance, the Latics are only referenced once (and indirectly at that) rather than being seen as the active participant they may well be (I say 'may' because I have no knowledge of the scheme). Pity the Chron didn't feature a photo shoot with the Latics - either using BP as a backdrop or include manager and/or players in the photo. Perhaps the Latics will feature in some way when the lad travels to the finals. Let's hope so.

Our season defining games (if there are such things) imo were the two Carlisle games. Snatching a draw from the jaws of victory and totally bottling it on our crowd incentive day will prove irrecoverable (as demonstrated by the ensuing defeat at BR) as far as the promotion push is concerned. Sorry lads but the bubble has burst - we just need to get back on the road to consolidation before it descends into .......??