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I started reading this thread and assumed it was going to be a sarcasm-laden swipe at SC - glad I continued reading! A good post I really don't get the negativity from others around his involvement at the club. He could have cut his losses years ago and those would have been the actions of a rational businessman - the fact that he has stayed and continue to cover our losses year after year (though perhaps this season might be an exception now) makes me think he does care...and perhaps more than a little. There IS going to be no big pay out for him or TTA when he finally says "enough" and I genuinely worry about who can take the club on at that point, particularly if we are still at a three sided BP when that point comes.

It's got nothing to do with football - when was the last time you went to a stadium/festival/theatre and didn't pay a significant mark up on your food and drink? Captive market - why wouldn't a business take advantage of that? Agree that the club/caterers should focus on a good quality product, but let's not expect basement prices...otherwise we are on a slippery slope back to bacon butty-gate!

When Aldershot played Man U at home a couple of years ago, ahead of general sale, they offered fans the chance to buy a cup ticket in conjunction with a full price ticket for the next league home game. Additional revenue for the club and maybe a middle ground for those unable to shell out £125 in one go? We could have a full house for MK Dons at home on 9th Feb! **Should add that I live near Aldershot - not a Man Ure fan!

Agree that there is no great culture of away support abroad - not least because distances are often much greater. Udinese are a pretty poorly supported team despite some recent success; the town of Udine is pretty small too - twinned with Neath in South Wales I believe.

Really solid performance today, moved the ball very well at times. There's no doubting that Colchester were poor, but - as the saying goes - you can only beat the side in front of you. Wesolowski MOM for me with an industrious back-to-his-best display. Only slight grumble is that we should have been out of sight with 15 to go - but that's what next week is for. Balti pies at Col also worth a shout - can only be described as "artisan" - with cumin seeds baked into the pastry. Delicious.

Cisak out of contract at the end of the season and turns 24 shortly before - let's get shot in Jan...and tell Bouzanis not to lose his head again!

Mike Fillery - pretty sure we paid a fee and got about three games out of him before shipping him on

Average from two games; Walsall on a Tuesday and Stevenage - those were always going to be amongst our lowest home attendances. Although if our poor home form from the last three years continues it won't be surprising to see us in the bottom quintile come May.

Laticdickovarmy - I'm based down in Surrey...3.5 hours each way to BP on a good run. In terms of revenue, Texaco benefit more than the club do when I decide to attend a home game!

Its been said already, but a great initiative, well done. As a Latic living 200 miles away, its great way to feel like I am supporting the club and the next generation of fans.

Amidst so much partially-informed speculation, I'm always intrigued when players' wages are formally disclosed in the press. However, I was staggered to read on the Beeb website that Mark McCammon was on £2,500 p/w at Gilingham in League 2! Presumably this was before any performance bonuses too. A journeyman striker who has only ever scored double figures in a season once in his career - no wonder so many clubs are staring bankruptcy in the face! All the more painful when we watch players who clearly can't be arsed to do a job that most of us would give a limb for...

Farnboro bought the old stand from Feethams, dismantled it and re-assembled it... ...and if they hang on they might be able to purchase three more sides from the Reynolds arena too.

Agree with this - its no way to instill belief in a team of youngsters. Dickov looked over to the away fans at the point that these numpties started chanting "you're not fit" - clearly not impressed. Also, can't be sure, but it felt like many of that fickle group were also the ones dancing around down the front after Simmo pulled us level. Other than that grumble, it was a highly entertaining finish to the game - and after all thats what we're paying for - and the players showed good fighting spirit to keep plugging away under difficult circumstances. I never thought I'd feel so good after witnessing a late Latics equaliser away at Wycombe, the significance of which is mainly about keeping us in the third tier of English football for the 16th consecutive season...

Diallo also looks incredibly lightweight - muscled off the ball on a number of occasions when he really shouldn't have been. In his defence though, he's another young lad learning his trade and - in his case - adapting to the English game.

Our current predicament isn't unique to Latics - teams in the Football League have been living beyond their means for some time. The rise of mega-rich club owners in the 1990s/2000s forced up wages to an unsustainable level - the more there were, the worse it got. Of course we're now in the situation where revenues have been falling for some time, punters just don't have the same disposable income to spend on football and - perhaps most crucially - the number of independently wealthy individuals standing in line to bank roll a small football club has dwindled. Player's wages need to adjust, but this will take time and there may be some casualties along the way; it surely won't be too long until we see a league club go bust (Port Vale first to go?). Some clubs have handled things better than others - as referred to above - building stadiums and securing non-matchday income streams that enhance the sustainability of the club. Unfortunately Latics didn't fix the roof while the sun was shining - this became evident when TTA were looking to finance the redevelopment of BP in 2008/9 through the sale of land - just at the time the property bubble was bursting. I'm very supportive of what TTA/Corney have done and continue to do for my club, but just don't see what the exit strategy looks like at the moment. We need external investment if the redevelopment is ever going to happen. In the mean time I would rather Latics cut their cloth accordingly on the playing budget and were competitive at whatever level of football that implied.

Just tuned in...who is the co-commentator on 5 Live Extra? Can't put a name to the voice and driving me mad... Got it...Stitch

Vocal support from a decent away following gave the players a real lift today IMO - especially at beginning of 2nd half. MoM for Latics faithful!

Are we in line for compensation for Evina? We signed him permanently in March (albeit on a short term deal) unless I am mistaken, he's U-24 and we offered him a new deal...

I visited the Union stadium for a game a couple of years back - it was like stepping back in time to the Communist era. Inexplicably the locals were queueing up to have their photo taken with my mate who had worn his Leeds shirt to the game. Excellent Bratwurst for 1 EURO a pop too.

Not sure whether this has been on the radar before (apologies if so!). Big Norm's autobiog due to be released in the Autumn...not expecting too much on the Latics, but perhaps he'll lift the lid on the night at the dogs? http://www.forestforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=23367

Can't get a game at AFCW if article is accurate!

Tax evasion is not the answer, but did this (and does it still) happen at football grounds up and down the country? There always used to be rumours of clubs not declaring the full crowd in order to reduce their VAT bill. Or the other way round, over-declare the gate figures as an excellent way to launder money? Russia anyone???

You can probably count on one hand the number of tackles made by Lidds over a three year period...although to be fair he wasn't in the team for his tackling.

...of the club's newfound commercial awareness? Once again, well done to them for coming up with this one; an opportunity to buy high-quality prints framed, on mugs, mouse mats etc - and they've done it in time for Christmas! A good selection of new and old, but I for one shall be ordering Rick Holden celebrating the League Cup semi-final win in 10x8 for my spare room (in anticipation that my missus will veto me putting it above the mantelpiece). http://www.oldhamathleticpics.com/ Looks like an external website, so wonder what % the club are making from these?

I'm a big fan of the man, but I have to say that Greeg's chronic lack of pace would get totally exposed with the style of football we are now playing i.e. high line, plenty of space in behind. Not even a centre back partner of Usain Bolt could make up for that... Gregan had a terrific year last year under DP where we spent most of the season camped in our own half and all he had to do was through his body in and get his noggin on the ball. Thinking back to Shez's last season, where again we were playing slightly more progressive football, Gregan got stripped out a on a number of occasions. 6-2 away at MK Dongs springs to mind, although I know he had personal problems towards the end of that season. Great servant to the club, and I wish him all the best if this is the end for him at BP. Best memory has to be Greegs feigning to guide the ball out for a goal kick, before turning a Gillingham striker inside out by his own corner flag at Priestfiled about 3 years ago. Something that was always a mystery to me; so dominant at defending set pieces, but only scored two goals at the right end, despite going up for most corners. Maybe just taking the biggest man out of the equation to make space for others?...