Fitzhugh Fella

I think part of the problem was that had the Eastleigh game been arranged on the Saturday we played Sutton then it is more likely Saints would have fielded more 1st teamers, there would have been more publicity and Eastleigh would therefore have got a bigger gate. I did wonder why Malone chose to go through the Echo. I guess he didn't really want to make a big deal of it by going through the FL (that would certainly have upset Saints) but he also did want to make the point that the contract had been broken.

PPS As a poster of sub 50 posts I fully expect to be ignored!! Thanks for your response, written with feeling but no gripes from me as you obviously speak from the heart. And of course you are right, we are only ever going to regain our standing in the upper echelons with ML's money. Football has changed, but not for the better, but none of us can turn back the clock. My personal feelings are that we should always treat people worse off than us with dignity and respect. I don't think that has happened with the Eastleigh match, where it appears we have simply ignored contractual obligations safe in the knowledge that the little person daren't complain. I do not want to support an organisation like that. You say move on and that is easy, lets leave Eastleigh behind us, but at the end of the day I can no longer love my club unconditionally if it behaves like a bully in the playground. I could type more but the way this forum now works it has taken me half an hour to get thus far.

Thanks for your response, written with feeling but no insult. I was being a little devil's advocate I do admit

I had a bet to myself that this thread would not get to 10 posts without a personal insult from a butch boy cretin. Just off to pick up my winnings.

I did not know that but it is interesting that we happened to have a free Saturday at short notice.

is not happy that the game with Saints did not take place on a Saturday "as it was due under the terms of the Aaron Martin deal", he also is quoted as saying "next season I hope Saints honour their obligation to play us on a Saturday". According to the Echo when Martin was signed by Saints there was "a written agreement that they would visit them (Eastleigh) for a Saturday friendly for the next 3 years". The Echo goes on to claim "Saints rubbed salt in Eastleigh's wounds by playing Sutton Utd managed by ex Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell "on their one free Saturday". The crowd last night was 1655 which was more than Malone expected. So - is the Echo stirring up trouble or are they merely just reporting back a fact and are duty bound so to do? Are Saints out of order for breaching a written agreement or is it a storm in a teacup? Is it important that Saints maintain a good relationship with their local neighbours or should they be grateful that Saints give them the time of day? So many questions - aint it grand we have a forum to debate them?

Hadn't thought of that - its what Spurs did to us re Bale and what Crouch never admitted to re Walcott.

Saw your old mate Dave Juson there - still holds a candle for Rupert!

Just emptied the whole lot - feel a whole lot better

Ottery if everone had the same sense of humour as you this forum would be a far pleasanter place to dwell. Incidentally heard loads more rumours tonight but I'm buggered if I am going to repeat them. They all sounded a bit crap any way.

Wide right

You got it in a nutshell, Bern, it was the pressure of the fans that finally persuaded NC to back off - for now!

Just back having watched the first half (I have an early start tomorrow). Goodish game - had trouble recognising Saints players apart from Bart and the two centre-halves, Martin and Tafozellio (sp). Oxlade-Chamberlain caught the eye though, very lively and dangerous - has grown a bit too. Big crowd meant it was impossible to get a decent view.

I suppose because really as it is all ML's money, it is his business and he'd rather not reveal the full price of what he has paid. One of the downsides of being owned by one rich man - but hey I am not knocking it before the bricks start getting hurled.

Well, that character reference you have given him has cheered me up D.

I think you might get a bit of flak for that last sentence D, whatever people think about APs tactics, he is well liked by the fans and now is certainly not the time to get rid. It should have been either last May or Xmas if we are not in a top 6 position.

Cheers Hypo - it is a shame that one of the most energetic but fair posters such as yourself are disillusioned.

I agree 100% Ron, you know me, I would not have posted a rumour until I was pretty happy there is an element of truth in it. When I started the Pompey takeover collapsing thread it was just a rumour passed on to me by a journalist and 12 months on it is still entertaining this forum. A month ago I heard from an ex player with good connections that Marcus was looking to sell. I gave it some thought, didn't believe it and so didn't post it. It is a sad state of affairs when anonymous posters resort to making remarks about one's job and personal life simply because they don't like your views on how the club is governed.

One day when this is all over remind me to tell you who the informant is.

A fair point. I think NC definitely wants what is best for Saints, no doubt about it. However if he does sack AP because "they don't get on" I do think that would be a mistake. I hope it does not happen but there are quite a few at SMS who think it will...... regardless. I never forget a few months after Wilde's arrival I started hearing all was not well from insiders and ex players. I did not want to believe them because I was so sure Wilde was the saviour but I was wrong and the rumours were correct.

I still hear quite a bit from the "old guard" but like I say do not take them seriously. This source is not old school nor does he/she have an axe to grind - one of the reasons I am concerned enough to post it on here.

I hear lots of stuff from reasonably good sources but rarely post because most of it is uncorroborated. Dodgy rumours can be divisive, and contrary to what some would say on here I want promotion as much as the next fan. However, this time I know my source, the rumour is corroborated by more than one person and I am growing very worried that things are not what they should be in order to meet the bookie's and indeed the fans' expectations. This forum is surely the place to air such concerns? I am told AP is likely to leave, not neccessarily because NC doesn't rate his managerial ability but it's more a case of they don't get on at all and so, considered opinion has it, that it is just "a matter of time" before there is a parting of the ways. I sincerely hope I am wrong, time will tell.

Papa Waigo's agent at the game yesterday, a deal could be sorted this week NC been on holiday for 3 weeks, one week to go, flew in especially for game AP won't make it to Xmas no matter how we are doing last home game of 09-10 NC told pre-match pitch announcer on no account praise AP Don't shoot the messenger - just passing on what was doing the rounds upstairs. All good sources.

Amen, thank God there are still people on this Forum who appear to have a modicum of humanity.

Can I be the first to predict this thread will one day surpass the Pompey takeover thread? Also I am not going to add any more personal thoughts until Ottery gives us the benefit of his legendary wisdom on these unfolding and riveting revelations. Nick Illingsworth is innocent.....................We need a signing!