Still trying to come down from the ceiling after yesterdays great news.
Bondy will know, however, that the team still needs strengthening in two or three key areas and that, whatever happens re the points, it will be important to get off to a flying start next season.
We have got a great captain and the nucleus of a good squad.
Come on you mighty reds.

The clouds do have a silver lining. Great to have you onboard for the fight ahead Danny. Now can we have all the doubters back and lets start the fight to get out of div 2.

Its great news that one of our better players is willing to sign once this saga of ownership is resolved . I am also pleased that nothing MATEARIALISED with the other Clubs that Danny spoke too. Lets all now hope that after Tuesday the Club can get on with business as normal ?

mike clegg wrote:
Its great news that one of our better players is willing to sign once this saga of ownership is resolved . I am also pleased that nothing MATEARIALISED with the other Clubs that Danny spoke too. Lets all now hope that after Tuesday the Club can get on with business as normal ?

well said Mike first time I have agreed with you, lets all hope for better things to come

I work with a couple of Colchester Fans and they were giving me some stick that the deal was in the bag and I am pretty sure that DH had spoken to Colchester but whatever KB or JM has said to him seems to have convinced him that the Club has a future for him to stake his career on it . So another lesson learnt by the Chairman , once he started communicating Players started to sign and us lot stopped arguing (with one or two exceptions!! ha ha) Try to be available for the bad news as well as the good news Mr Mostyn people may not like it but at least you will get a bit of respect. It is obvious that you have convince Coops and Danny and they are players who could have walked and you could have got money for Danny so credit when due well done and thank you. NOW DONT SPOIL IT

Oh and I cant wait to talk to the Colchester Boys on Monday

whar we need now is the fans to sign up for the new season, we must aim for 6000 a game.

Well done Bondy and team – excellent news! Danny you are a star!
But again mention and apparent acceptance of a 15 point deduction. Can anyone explain WHY?
There have not been any dodgy dealings here – unlike Leeds and Luton – and the situation has been handled in an HONEST way throughout. The time factor is simply an inevitable consequence of new owners needing time to put together funding and a business plan to enable creditors to be repaid ( to whatever extent) and get on with running a club that has always had an excellent support base and been a role model for trying new and innovative ideas to keep it going (albeit that the excellent community club idea was effectively still-born thanks to the subsequent greed of the premiership ‘glamour clubs’ and “big clubs” like Leeds – and we know what their morals and ethics are like!)
The club went into admin at a point where we were out of the relegation zone – or just about – and the 10 point deduction did lead to relegation. So we have been heavily penalised. This was a completely different approach to the dishonesty at Leeds!
So why is Mr K so willing to roll over and beg the fools at the Football League for a kicking? What world does he live in?
Surely any such penal decision would be the subject of a lengthy appeal by the new owners of AFCB – which should show the League management up for the bunch of doddering old fools that they are. It’s time for lower league clubs to unite against the League management and protect themselves from future action – because which one of them will be next.
Make a stand for something good for once in your life Mr K !
There – got that off my chest and now expect to receive a flood of criticism for my thoughts!
PS renewing my season tickets today.

Excellent news of course!!! However, I am puzzled by what is meant by the alledged fact that we have kept the nucleus of the side to gether!!??.

This of course inaccurate as we have lost FORDE(loan) (who's efforts alone probably contributed to the suuccessful results towards the end of last season). We have also lost GRADEL (loan), GOWLING, YOUNG, VOKES and PERRETT (who I believe if kept fit would have been a regular and useful in League 'diddley' Two.

So in effect we have been severly weakened and with the likelyhood of not coming out of administration until the season starts, all available quality players would have been signed up by other clubs. So that would mean the side is again going to be propped up by loan signings and a complete re-build will be on the cards. Finally, it looks as if we will be running a skeleton squad with NO COVER FOR INJURIES!!. We should all know that this does not bode well for a campaign of trying to get out of this division in an upward direction.

This coupled with a possible 15 point deduction only means a season of going nowhere very fast.

I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT ANY TAKEOVER OF AFCB APPEARS DESIGNED TO RESCUE THE CLUB ONLY - AND NOT TO TAKE IT FORWARD!!. THISS IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE DONCASTER CHAIRMAN HAS INVESTED SIX MILLION QUID INTO THE THEIR CLUBS AND GOT THEM INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

So with out alledged one million investment, where are we going ???. Not very far I suspect!!!

Sorry but reality has a nasty habit of creeping up on one!!

Regards

smhinto wrote:
Excellent news of course!!! However, I am puzzled by what is meant by the alledged fact that we have kept the nucleus of the side to gether!!??.

This of course inaccurate as we have lost FORDE(loan) (who's efforts alone probably contributed to the suuccessful results towards the end of last season). We have also lost GRADEL (loan), GOWLING, YOUNG, VOKES and PERRETT (who I believe if kept fit would have been a regular and useful in League 'diddley' Two.

So in effect we have been severly weakened and with the likelyhood of not coming out of administration until the season starts, all available quality players would have been signed up by other clubs. So that would mean the side is again going to be propped up by loan signings and a complete re-build will be on the cards. Finally, it looks as if we will be running a skeleton squad with NO COVER FOR INJURIES!!. We should all know that this does not bode well for a campaign of trying to get out of this division in an upward direction.

This coupled with a possible 15 point deduction only means a season of going nowhere very fast.

I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT ANY TAKEOVER OF AFCB APPEARS DESIGNED TO RESCUE THE CLUB ONLY - AND NOT TO TAKE IT FORWARD!!. THISS IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE DONCASTER CHAIRMAN HAS INVESTED SIX MILLION QUID INTO THE THEIR CLUBS AND GOT THEM INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

So with out alledged one million investment, where are we going ???. Not very far I suspect!!!

Sorry but reality has a nasty habit of creeping up on one!!

Regards

We are all aware you no longer support the club and won't attend next season, so forgive the rest of us for seeing that things are moving forward and that we have kept the nucleus of a good team, the players you talk about were never going to figure this season, Forde a loan player, Gradel a loan player, Gowling was going to leave regardless,Young retired, Vokes we all knew was being sold, and Perrett illness, so I can't see where you are getting your comments from, of the players we could have signed up we have all but Gowling, and Lovell is expected to join which covers for Vokes, others have come back from injury and we have a young keeper more than capable of filling the no1 jersey, as for cover for injuries Bond was quite clear about the make up of the squad as long ago as 6 weeks past, 14 senior players loanees and youth, and looking at who we have that all looks well on target. I also can't see where you get the idea we won't be coming out of administration from, if there is one thing that is looking more certain than at any time this year it is that we will be. The 15 points has not yet been administered either and even if it does we have a good team which can overcome that otherwise they would not have stayed. Also you cannot compare AFCB with Doncaster and how do you know what the investment is going to be? you have to rescue the club first before you can take it forward, then if we have a good season which is very possible the crowds will come back and more money will come in as the club becomes a better investment option, of course you won't be interested in all that, you have already made it clear you want nothing to do with the new era.

Who's to say that Gradel will not come back next season. Remember there has been a change in management at Leicester so he might be allowed to go out on loan or go for a cheap fee.
Secondly, don't forget it was only Mr Krasner's opinion that there would be a 15 point penalty. We will have to await to see at the meeting on 10 July.
Finally, there has been some positive news coming out of the club with players signing new contracts etc. Hopefully, this will be concluded satisfactorily on Tuesday.I am sure KB has a few palyers he will have alook at in the pre-season training and friendlies. Hopefully, the transfer embargo will have been lifted by then.

Kevvo, you said you work with 'a couple of Colchester fans'. Actually, they 'ARE the Colchester fans!'
Things are definitely looking up. I guess it's time for me to renew my season ticket...the hard part is persuading my friend to do likewise. Any tips for persuasion?

Amused that so many people think we are going back up whereas last week we were odds on to go down.

Great news is that we are all excited about the new season.

However the squad will be weak initially since I assume we cant sign people till the football league give us our share back - prob 2 weeks before the start of the league campaign, so not much time to act.

Is Lovell lined up still?

Also quite a tough start to the season. Gills and Port Vale will be tough whilst would have liked to have faced Aldershot and Exeter later in the season when their bubble has burst.

So important we stay patient and continue to support the players, who have shown great commitment. This shows the palyers must respect Bondy: people dont want to play for poor managers.

If we get the nod from the league-we will definately get promoted. We are in a league of Dross-so up we go!

I saw a few games in that division last season. Morecambe and Rochdale impressed me - very strong and even Dagenham, who struggled really got stuck in. Hope/expect the quality of our midfield to be the key - cant believe any side will have a better quartet in Div2 .

With comments about standard of play in Div 2, do the cynics recall the Cherries match at Accrington a few seasons ago? Stanley wasn't even a league team then!

richard.board wrote:
If we get the nod from the league-we will definately get promoted. We are in a league of Dross-so up we go!

Those who think we are in a league of dross are in for a shock.Saw Aldershot and Exeter last season.Both are fit,young and hungry teams with very good and noisy support.
As I have said on a number of occasions the first six games will shape our season.
It is up to us to really get behind the team and give as much vocal support as we can home and away.

GMcMahon wrote:

smhinto wrote: Excellent news of course!!! However, I am puzzled by what is meant by the alledged fact that we have kept the nucleus of the side to gether!!??. This of course inaccurate as we have lost FORDE(loan) (who's efforts alone probably contributed to the suuccessful results towards the end of last season). We have also lost GRADEL (loan), GOWLING, YOUNG, VOKES and PERRETT (who I believe if kept fit would have been a regular and useful in League 'diddley' Two. So in effect we have been severly weakened and with the likelyhood of not coming out of administration until the season starts, all available quality players would have been signed up by other clubs. So that would mean the side is again going to be propped up by loan signings and a complete re-build will be on the cards. Finally, it looks as if we will be running a skeleton squad with NO COVER FOR INJURIES!!. We should all know that this does not bode well for a campaign of trying to get out of this division in an upward direction. This coupled with a possible 15 point deduction only means a season of going nowhere very fast. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT ANY TAKEOVER OF AFCB APPEARS DESIGNED TO RESCUE THE CLUB ONLY - AND NOT TO TAKE IT FORWARD!!. THISS IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE DONCASTER CHAIRMAN HAS INVESTED SIX MILLION QUID INTO THE THEIR CLUBS AND GOT THEM INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP. So with out alledged one million investment, where are we going ???. Not very far I suspect!!! Sorry but reality has a nasty habit of creeping up on one!! Regards

We are all aware you no longer support the club and won't attend next season, so forgive the rest of us for seeing that things are moving forward and that we have kept the nucleus of a good team, the players you talk about were never going to figure this season, Forde a loan player, Gradel a loan player, Gowling was going to leave regardless,Young retired, Vokes we all knew was being sold, and Perrett illness, so I can't see where you are getting your comments from, of the players we could have signed up we have all but Gowling, and Lovell is expected to join which covers for Vokes, others have come back from injury and we have a young keeper more than capable of filling the no1 jersey, as for cover for injuries Bond was quite clear about the make up of the squad as long ago as 6 weeks past, 14 senior players loanees and youth, and looking at who we have that all looks well on target. I also can't see where you get the idea we won't be coming out of administration from, if there is one thing that is looking more certain than at any time this year it is that we will be. The 15 points has not yet been administered either and even if it does we have a good team which can overcome that otherwise they would not have stayed. Also you cannot compare AFCB with Doncaster and how do you know what the investment is going to be? you have to rescue the club first before you can take it forward, then if we have a good season which is very possible the crowds will come back and more money will come in as the club becomes a better investment option, of course you won't be interested in all that, you have already made it clear you want nothing to do with the new era.

Sorry cant agree

1. Ford and Gradel not our players to keep in the first place.

2. Vokes going was inevatable although I accept that he is a big loss.

3. No Club has ever been able to keep Perrett fit and he was well past his best anyway

4. Young had to retire sometime and that was out of the Clubs hands.

5 Gowling didnt want to play for the Club and showed glimpses of that in his performances accross the Season.

Sorry but to say losing 2 loan players a bloke that hardly ever played another who Bond loaned out for a fair part of the season and finaly one whos ego was a lot bigger than his contrabution is hardly losing the nucleus of the Team. Of course it would have been great to get Gradel and keep Vokes . I am one of the biggest critics of Mostyn but I think he and Bond have done well in this respect and concentrated on keeping together players that we had a chance of keeping and not the walking wounded high and mighty and wasting time and resources trying to sign players contracted to other Clubs when we have little or no money. The survival of the Club is more important

mike wrote:
Kevvo, you said you work with 'a couple of Colchester fans'. Actually, they 'ARE the Colchester fans!' Things are definitely looking up. I guess it's time for me to renew my season ticket...the hard part is persuading my friend to do likewise. Any tips for persuasion?

I will send my Colchester workmates down then he will see that there are sadder people than us about !!!. Blimey if a Mr I dont entirely trust Mostyn like me goes and gets one it should be easy for anyone else ha ha Oh and to be fair to CFC there is another one about somewhere

richard.board wrote:
If we get the nod from the league-we will definately get promoted. We are in a league of Dross-so up we go!

If only it where that easy Richard Board
If only

kevvo wrote:

GMcMahon wrote:

smhinto wrote: Excellent news of course!!! However, I am puzzled by what is meant by the alledged fact that we have kept the nucleus of the side to gether!!??. This of course inaccurate as we have lost FORDE(loan) (who's efforts alone probably contributed to the suuccessful results towards the end of last season). We have also lost GRADEL (loan), GOWLING, YOUNG, VOKES and PERRETT (who I believe if kept fit would have been a regular and useful in League 'diddley' Two. So in effect we have been severly weakened and with the likelyhood of not coming out of administration until the season starts, all available quality players would have been signed up by other clubs. So that would mean the side is again going to be propped up by loan signings and a complete re-build will be on the cards. Finally, it looks as if we will be running a skeleton squad with NO COVER FOR INJURIES!!. We should all know that this does not bode well for a campaign of trying to get out of this division in an upward direction. This coupled with a possible 15 point deduction only means a season of going nowhere very fast. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT ANY TAKEOVER OF AFCB APPEARS DESIGNED TO RESCUE THE CLUB ONLY - AND NOT TO TAKE IT FORWARD!!. THISS IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE DONCASTER CHAIRMAN HAS INVESTED SIX MILLION QUID INTO THE THEIR CLUBS AND GOT THEM INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP. So with out alledged one million investment, where are we going ???. Not very far I suspect!!! Sorry but reality has a nasty habit of creeping up on one!! Regards

We are all aware you no longer support the club and won't attend next season, so forgive the rest of us for seeing that things are moving forward and that we have kept the nucleus of a good team, the players you talk about were never going to figure this season, Forde a loan player, Gradel a loan player, Gowling was going to leave regardless,Young retired, Vokes we all knew was being sold, and Perrett illness, so I can't see where you are getting your comments from, of the players we could have signed up we have all but Gowling, and Lovell is expected to join which covers for Vokes, others have come back from injury and we have a young keeper more than capable of filling the no1 jersey, as for cover for injuries Bond was quite clear about the make up of the squad as long ago as 6 weeks past, 14 senior players loanees and youth, and looking at who we have that all looks well on target. I also can't see where you get the idea we won't be coming out of administration from, if there is one thing that is looking more certain than at any time this year it is that we will be. The 15 points has not yet been administered either and even if it does we have a good team which can overcome that otherwise they would not have stayed. Also you cannot compare AFCB with Doncaster and how do you know what the investment is going to be? you have to rescue the club first before you can take it forward, then if we have a good season which is very possible the crowds will come back and more money will come in as the club becomes a better investment option, of course you won't be interested in all that, you have already made it clear you want nothing to do with the new era.

Sorry cant agree 1. Ford and Gradel not our players to keep in the first place. 2. Vokes going was inevatable although I accept that he is a big loss. 3. No Club has ever been able to keep Perrett fit and he was well past his best anyway 4. Young had to retire sometime and that was out of the Clubs hands. 5 Gowling didnt want to play for the Club and showed glimpses of that in his performances accross the Season. Sorry but to say losing 2 loan players a bloke that hardly ever played another who Bond loaned out for a fair part of the season and finaly one whos ego was a lot bigger than his contrabution is hardly losing the nucleus of the Team. Of course it would have been great to get Gradel and keep Vokes . I am one of the biggest critics of Mostyn but I think he and Bond have done well in this respect and concentrated on keeping together players that we had a chance of keeping and not the walking wounded high and mighty and wasting time and resources trying to sign players contracted to other Clubs when we have little or no money. The survival of the Club is more important

Sorry G McMahon I meant I cant agree with the original post.

I thought we had tried to ban "smhinto" as he (?) is clearly only a fair weather supporter!!! The latest posts confirm this view.

France Cherry wrote:
I thought we had tried to ban "smhinto" as he (?) is clearly only a fair weather supporter!!! The latest posts confirm this view.

A fair weather supporter of what team though?

GMcMahon wrote:

France Cherry wrote: I thought we had tried to ban "smhinto" as he (?) is clearly only a fair weather supporter!!! The latest posts confirm this view.

A fair weather supporter of what team though?

he is just looking through his rose coloured specs, obviously does not like us and one of lifes moaners. glass always half empty. Lets hope he just goes away

kevvo wrote:

GMcMahon wrote:

smhinto wrote: Excellent news of course!!! However, I am puzzled by what is meant by the alledged fact that we have kept the nucleus of the side to gether!!??. This of course inaccurate as we have lost FORDE(loan) (who's efforts alone probably contributed to the suuccessful results towards the end of last season). We have also lost GRADEL (loan), GOWLING, YOUNG, VOKES and PERRETT (who I believe if kept fit would have been a regular and useful in League 'diddley' Two. So in effect we have been severly weakened and with the likelyhood of not coming out of administration until the season starts, all available quality players would have been signed up by other clubs. So that would mean the side is again going to be propped up by loan signings and a complete re-build will be on the cards. Finally, it looks as if we will be running a skeleton squad with NO COVER FOR INJURIES!!. We should all know that this does not bode well for a campaign of trying to get out of this division in an upward direction. This coupled with a possible 15 point deduction only means a season of going nowhere very fast. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT ANY TAKEOVER OF AFCB APPEARS DESIGNED TO RESCUE THE CLUB ONLY - AND NOT TO TAKE IT FORWARD!!. THISS IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE DONCASTER CHAIRMAN HAS INVESTED SIX MILLION QUID INTO THE THEIR CLUBS AND GOT THEM INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP. So with out alledged one million investment, where are we going ???. Not very far I suspect!!! Sorry but reality has a nasty habit of creeping up on one!! Regards

We are all aware you no longer support the club and won't attend next season, so forgive the rest of us for seeing that things are moving forward and that we have kept the nucleus of a good team, the players you talk about were never going to figure this season, Forde a loan player, Gradel a loan player, Gowling was going to leave regardless,Young retired, Vokes we all knew was being sold, and Perrett illness, so I can't see where you are getting your comments from, of the players we could have signed up we have all but Gowling, and Lovell is expected to join which covers for Vokes, others have come back from injury and we have a young keeper more than capable of filling the no1 jersey, as for cover for injuries Bond was quite clear about the make up of the squad as long ago as 6 weeks past, 14 senior players loanees and youth, and looking at who we have that all looks well on target. I also can't see where you get the idea we won't be coming out of administration from, if there is one thing that is looking more certain than at any time this year it is that we will be. The 15 points has not yet been administered either and even if it does we have a good team which can overcome that otherwise they would not have stayed. Also you cannot compare AFCB with Doncaster and how do you know what the investment is going to be? you have to rescue the club first before you can take it forward, then if we have a good season which is very possible the crowds will come back and more money will come in as the club becomes a better investment option, of course you won't be interested in all that, you have already made it clear you want nothing to do with the new era.

Sorry cant agree 1. Ford and Gradel not our players to keep in the first place. 2. Vokes going was inevatable although I accept that he is a big loss. 3. No Club has ever been able to keep Perrett fit and he was well past his best anyway 4. Young had to retire sometime and that was out of the Clubs hands. 5 Gowling didnt want to play for the Club and showed glimpses of that in his performances accross the Season. Sorry but to say losing 2 loan players a bloke that hardly ever played another who Bond loaned out for a fair part of the season and finaly one whos ego was a lot bigger than his contrabution is hardly losing the nucleus of the Team. Of course it would have been great to get Gradel and keep Vokes . I am one of the biggest critics of Mostyn but I think he and Bond have done well in this respect and concentrated on keeping together players that we had a chance of keeping and not the walking wounded high and mighty and wasting time and resources trying to sign players contracted to other Clubs when we have little or no money. The survival of the Club is more important

While I too think much of what smhinto says is bollards, I don't think his realism should be ignored.

Like it or not, on paper, we are a weaker squad today than the one that finished last season.

While we remain in administration we won't be buying any new players, so whether we're deducted another 15 points or not, next season will be tough.

I'm afraid I can't join some people in the collective delusion that we'll go straight back up.

The standard in League Two is NOT 'diddly' or poor. Low attendances do not necessarily mean the football is that bad.

That said I am optimistic, mainly because the loyalty shown by many re-signing players was impressive (although do people who get relegated probably have much bargaining power when talking to prospective new employers?)

If come Tuesday we step out of administration, and Uncle Jeff gives young Kevin some cash for players I'll start to believe that going straight back up is realistic.

But based on what we all know RIGHT NOW, and after all we've been through this year, I'll be happy for the club to still be alive in twelve months and the team finishing mid-table.

Promotion should be the cherry on the cake, not the cake itself.

AFCB lost in Brum wrote:

kevvo wrote:

GMcMahon wrote:

smhinto wrote: Excellent news of course!!! However, I am puzzled by what is meant by the alledged fact that we have kept the nucleus of the side to gether!!??. This of course inaccurate as we have lost FORDE(loan) (who's efforts alone probably contributed to the suuccessful results towards the end of last season). We have also lost GRADEL (loan), GOWLING, YOUNG, VOKES and PERRETT (who I believe if kept fit would have been a regular and useful in League 'diddley' Two. So in effect we have been severly weakened and with the likelyhood of not coming out of administration until the season starts, all available quality players would have been signed up by other clubs. So that would mean the side is again going to be propped up by loan signings and a complete re-build will be on the cards. Finally, it looks as if we will be running a skeleton squad with NO COVER FOR INJURIES!!. We should all know that this does not bode well for a campaign of trying to get out of this division in an upward direction. This coupled with a possible 15 point deduction only means a season of going nowhere very fast. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT ANY TAKEOVER OF AFCB APPEARS DESIGNED TO RESCUE THE CLUB ONLY - AND NOT TO TAKE IT FORWARD!!. THISS IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE DONCASTER CHAIRMAN HAS INVESTED SIX MILLION QUID INTO THE THEIR CLUBS AND GOT THEM INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP. So with out alledged one million investment, where are we going ???. Not very far I suspect!!! Sorry but reality has a nasty habit of creeping up on one!! Regards

We are all aware you no longer support the club and won't attend next season, so forgive the rest of us for seeing that things are moving forward and that we have kept the nucleus of a good team, the players you talk about were never going to figure this season, Forde a loan player, Gradel a loan player, Gowling was going to leave regardless,Young retired, Vokes we all knew was being sold, and Perrett illness, so I can't see where you are getting your comments from, of the players we could have signed up we have all but Gowling, and Lovell is expected to join which covers for Vokes, others have come back from injury and we have a young keeper more than capable of filling the no1 jersey, as for cover for injuries Bond was quite clear about the make up of the squad as long ago as 6 weeks past, 14 senior players loanees and youth, and looking at who we have that all looks well on target. I also can't see where you get the idea we won't be coming out of administration from, if there is one thing that is looking more certain than at any time this year it is that we will be. The 15 points has not yet been administered either and even if it does we have a good team which can overcome that otherwise they would not have stayed. Also you cannot compare AFCB with Doncaster and how do you know what the investment is going to be? you have to rescue the club first before you can take it forward, then if we have a good season which is very possible the crowds will come back and more money will come in as the club becomes a better investment option, of course you won't be interested in all that, you have already made it clear you want nothing to do with the new era.

Sorry cant agree 1. Ford and Gradel not our players to keep in the first place. 2. Vokes going was inevatable although I accept that he is a big loss. 3. No Club has ever been able to keep Perrett fit and he was well past his best anyway 4. Young had to retire sometime and that was out of the Clubs hands. 5 Gowling didnt want to play for the Club and showed glimpses of that in his performances accross the Season. Sorry but to say losing 2 loan players a bloke that hardly ever played another who Bond loaned out for a fair part of the season and finaly one whos ego was a lot bigger than his contrabution is hardly losing the nucleus of the Team. Of course it would have been great to get Gradel and keep Vokes . I am one of the biggest critics of Mostyn but I think he and Bond have done well in this respect and concentrated on keeping together players that we had a chance of keeping and not the walking wounded high and mighty and wasting time and resources trying to sign players contracted to other Clubs when we have little or no money. The survival of the Club is more important

While I too think much of what smhinto says is bollards, I don't think his realism should be ignored. Like it or not, on paper, we are a weaker squad today than the one that finished last season. While we remain in administration we won't be buying any new players, so whether we're deducted another 15 points or not, next season will be tough. I'm afraid I can't join some people in the collective delusion that we'll go straight back up. The standard in League Two is NOT 'diddly' or poor. Low attendances do not necessarily mean the football is that bad. That said I am optimistic, mainly because the loyalty shown by many re-signing players was impressive (although do people who get relegated probably have much bargaining power when talking to prospective new employers?) If come Tuesday we step out of administration, and Uncle Jeff gives young Kevin some cash for players I'll start to believe that going straight back up is realistic. But based on what we all know RIGHT NOW, and after all we've been through this year, I'll be happy for the club to still be alive in twelve months and the team finishing mid-table. Promotion should be the cherry on the cake, not the cake itself.

not sayin we will go straight back up hope we do Of course we are weaker than we were last season but to say the nucleus of the team has gone is nonsense. The players we have lost allowing for the fact that Gradel and Forde were never ours with the exception of Vokes are replaceable. I accept some the comments ,of course I do but in reality what good was Perrett we can replace him by putting a Youth player in the stands every game. Cant stop players retiring so yes its going to be difficult but lets not throw the towel in just yet. The Young players may be as good as Joe Roach says they are.

France Cherry wrote:
I thought we had tried to ban "smhinto" as he (?) is clearly only a fair weather supporter!!! The latest posts confirm this view.

I think its wrong to try to get someone banned just because they have a different view than some of the others dont you. Perhaps we should invite Robert Mugabe to adminster the site

Not throwing the towel in Kevvo, just seting realistic goals and targets.

Whenever I've been trained how to handle staff, we were always told to set achieveable goals at regular intervals.

Make sense, otherwise people give up too early on

AFCB lost in Brum wrote:
Not throwing the towel in Kevvo, just seting realistic goals and targets. Whenever I've been trained how to handle staff, we were always told to set achieveable goals at regular intervals. Make sense, otherwise people give up too early on

As you say surviving is our first goal anything else is a bonus I wasnt knocking sminto or you just cant agree about the importance of players like Perrett or even Gowling. I can remember when Harry sold Colin Clarke and there was uproar then he got a team of chuck outs and we won the division so anything is possible but I agree about being realistic maybe its just me so p^^ssed off with all the bad news and dreaming of sucess ha ha !!!!

AFCB lost in Brum wrote:
Not throwing the towel in Kevvo, just seting realistic goals and targets.

Whenever I've been trained how to handle staff, we were always told to set achieveable goals at regular intervals.

Make sense, otherwise people give up too early on

Why shouldn't the players and fans go into the season wanting to go straight back up, you have a funny way of handling staff if you want them to settle for less than the may achieve, we have to think we can do it and if we fall short we can judge but it is always better to have a go than start the season with a it might happen attitude, come on get behind the players that's the way they may pull it off, and for the record no one is expecting it to be a walk in the park or a dead cert to happen it's just that after all we have been through and with so many players staying there is a sense of optimism around the place for once we need to use it not try and kill it off.

GMcMahon wrote:

AFCB lost in Brum wrote: Not throwing the towel in Kevvo, just seting realistic goals and targets. Whenever I've been trained how to handle staff, we were always told to set achieveable goals at regular intervals. Make sense, otherwise people give up too early on

Why shouldn't the players and fans go into the season wanting to go straight back up, you have a funny way of handling staff if you want them to settle for less than the may achieve, we have to think we can do it and if we fall short we can judge but it is always better to have a go than start the season with a it might happen attitude, come on get behind the players that's the way they may pull it off, and for the record no one is expecting it to be a walk in the park or a dead cert to happen it's just that after all we have been through and with so many players staying there is a sense of optimism around the place for once we need to use it not try and kill it off.

You're missing the point, but sadly, GMcMahon, that is your raison d'etre.

Of course we all go into the season wanting promotion, whether we're fans and players. I wouldn't expect or want anything else from anyone involved in the club.

However you need to set a series of goals and targets, that run throughout the season. That's why players get win bonuses, extra payments for a set number of appearances, bonuses for hitting goal scoring targets, etc.

Beyond these aims set in contracts you also set other targets, game by game - for example it could be as simple as keeping a clean sheet at the next game, probably after failing to do so in previous games.

You have to keep these objectives flexible to deal with things you can't control, like being deducted 15 points.

We hear managers good and bad do this all the time - "we're looking to get 9 points out of the next 12" for example - so it shouldn't be a surprise.

I know we're all English and want to believe that if we have the passion that'll be enough but the truth is it isn't.

You can't manage for a team just based on rousing speeches and shouting - unless you're Kevin Keegan. You have to temper when to be tough with players and when to have that careful chat. You don't manage a Steve Fletcher (lesser talent but with 100% passion) in the same way as a Max Gradle (bags of talent but emotionally fragile).

So it's not a 'might happen attitude', it's about working through the season game by game, month by month, building each players confidence, and the team, in different ways.

So I'm not trying to "kill off" any optimism. I want to see us have a chance with mature, sensible planning NOT blind schoolboy rhetoric.

AFCB AL wrote:
Well done Bondy and team – excellent news! Danny you are a star!
But again mention and apparent acceptance of a 15 point deduction. Can anyone explain WHY?
There have not been any dodgy dealings here – unlike Leeds and Luton – and the situation has been handled in an HONEST way throughout. The time factor is simply an inevitable consequence of new owners needing time to put together funding and a business plan to enable creditors to be repaid ( to whatever extent) and get on with running a club that has always had an excellent support base and been a role model for trying new and innovative ideas to keep it going (albeit that the excellent community club idea was effectively still-born thanks to the subsequent greed of the premiership ‘glamour clubs’ and “big clubs” like Leeds – and we know what their morals and ethics are like!)
The club went into admin at a point where we were out of the relegation zone – or just about – and the 10 point deduction did lead to relegation. So we have been heavily penalised. This was a completely different approach to the dishonesty at Leeds!
So why is Mr K so willing to roll over and beg the fools at the Football League for a kicking? What world does he live in?
Surely any such penal decision would be the subject of a lengthy appeal by the new owners of AFCB – which should show the League management up for the bunch of doddering old fools that they are. It’s time for lower league clubs to unite against the League management and protect themselves from future action – because which one of them will be next.
Make a stand for something good for once in your life Mr K !
There – got that off my chest and now expect to receive a flood of criticism for my thoughts!
PS renewing my season tickets today.

I agree and despite it all I will be pretty shocked if we do get a 15 point deduction because we went into administration just to survive as a club and we've not done a Leeds or had dodgey deals like at Luton.

To be punished from a points deduction that relegated AFCB and then attempt to hinder our recovery is REALLY kicking a team when it's down.

I think you're right that the smaller clubs should team up against the league in the same way the big ones have. It would be a rubbish league for the big four without the rest of us.

Asking an ex-Leeds chairman to do something good is a little much though!

Agree totaly Kudos. I could understand a deduction if we had done something illegal such as transfer fiddles or if we had waited until it was impossible to stay up and then go into administration. I hope the League will look upon getting relagated as punishment enough. Surely it dilutes the League if Teams are penalised like this allowing lesser Teams to take advantage.

AFCB lost in Brum wrote:

GMcMahon wrote:

AFCB lost in Brum wrote: Not throwing the towel in Kevvo, just seting realistic goals and targets. Whenever I've been trained how to handle staff, we were always told to set achieveable goals at regular intervals. Make sense, otherwise people give up too early on

Why shouldn't the players and fans go into the season wanting to go straight back up, you have a funny way of handling staff if you want them to settle for less than the may achieve, we have to think we can do it and if we fall short we can judge but it is always better to have a go than start the season with a it might happen attitude, come on get behind the players that's the way they may pull it off, and for the record no one is expecting it to be a walk in the park or a dead cert to happen it's just that after all we have been through and with so many players staying there is a sense of optimism around the place for once we need to use it not try and kill it off.

You're missing the point, but sadly, GMcMahon, that is your raison d'etre.

Of course we all go into the season wanting promotion, whether we're fans and players. I wouldn't expect or want anything else from anyone involved in the club.

However you need to set a series of goals and targets, that run throughout the season. That's why players get win bonuses, extra payments for a set number of appearances, bonuses for hitting goal scoring targets, etc.

Beyond these aims set in contracts you also set other targets, game by game - for example it could be as simple as keeping a clean sheet at the next game, probably after failing to do so in previous games.

You have to keep these objectives flexible to deal with things you can't control, like being deducted 15 points.

We hear managers good and bad do this all the time - "we're looking to get 9 points out of the next 12" for example - so it shouldn't be a surprise.

I know we're all English and want to believe that if we have the passion that'll be enough but the truth is it isn't.

You can't manage for a team just based on rousing speeches and shouting - unless you're Kevin Keegan. You have to temper when to be tough with players and when to have that careful chat. You don't manage a Steve Fletcher (lesser talent but with 100% passion) in the same way as a Max Gradle (bags of talent but emotionally fragile).

So it's not a 'might happen attitude', it's about working through the season game by game, month by month, building each players confidence, and the team, in different ways.

So I'm not trying to "kill off" any optimism. I want to see us have a chance with mature, sensible planning NOT blind schoolboy rhetoric.

Blind schoolboy rhetoric, what utter nonsense, I am not saying the Manager will not plan his campaign that is a different issue, I am saying there is no reason at this time for us to think that the season cannot be a success, I would much rather the target be the top 7 and a chance than go into the season wanting to avoid relegation, the players need to be going into every game with confidence and not be looking over their shoulders worrying about points deductions etc, that is the difference it's not schoolboy rhetoric, the planning is done behind the scenes and should not have anything to do with the players, they have to be in the right frame of mind for success, as I said if then things are not going right you have a chance to change things mid season, but to have goals that only give the lads a realistic goal means that is all they expect to achieve, I would much rather we fall short of the highest goals than fall short of the realistic goals, especially as the season has not even started yet and we don't know what the penalty will be.

Yet again you're missing the point in some part.

You do this with so many posters, you really need to read carefully what people write. You are the most misunderstood poster on here, surely it can't be everyone else's fault can it?

But you are right, " there is no reason for us to think that the season cannot be a success", you and I just disagree what defines success after the circus of 2008.

We're both entitled to our different opinions, so I guess that's done.

But then you lose it. You say, " but to have goals that only give the lads a realistic goal means that is all they expect to achieve".

Are you saying promotion is unrealistic?

Promotion should be the main target before a ball is kicked, and I think it is realistic. But if it doesn't happen, we stay in business, and have given a good account of ourselves, I won't be heartbroken, at least not this season!

All that aside, I love that you and all the other posters care enough about the club to post almost everyday - for that you will ALWAYS have my fulL respect.

UTCIAD