Alain Perrin

Personally I can think of a lot worse candidates than Wotte. I think he talks sense and most of his post matches pick up on things I was shouting about during the game. I also think that, given the takeover is dragging on, there are real dangers of changing the manager at too late a stage, particularly starting at -10. He also has continuity in his favour. That said he's not got experience of League 1. If there's a good candidate, soon, with experience, then I'd take him over Wotte. BUT I do think we need to be careful of changing for the sake of change.

Face facts though Andy, he's not Ronaldo, nor should we expect him to be. He's young, has talent and an eye for goal. I didn't hear people complaining when he scored the winner against Palace. He has rough edges, but he's young and will come good

I know that he went on strike and that was unforgivable, however have any of you read the article or have you just jumped to conclusions? He said "If we stay up I am definitely going to be here. If we go down I don't know what is going to happen," - What is wrong with that? Of course he doesn't know, he might have to be sold, Chelsea might come in for him. He also says : "I can't say what happens, I just have to do the best I can for the team." - what is wrong with that?

Personally I'm glad to be rid of Kevin Davis, he's an overweight waste of space. Personally I'm glad to be rid of Ricardo Fuller, he's an overweight waste of space. Personally I'm glad to be rid of Rory Delap, his long throw is ineffective. Personally I'm glad to be rid of Dexter Blackstock, he'll never score any important goals. Personally I'm glad to be rid of [insert name here] I think we ought to be careful what we wish for. DMcG is still maturing as a player and, properly used, will score a bag load of goals. I think he has weaknesses, I think his shooting is often too weak, but his strength, control and running with the ball are very good. People who cite players as being 'lazy' would prefer 11 Jesus' running round like headless chickens to a balance of a team with some grinders, some strength, some guile and some magicians. Personally I think Schiederlin, McGoldrick and Lallana will all play top flight football and, on that basis, would be an asset for us in League 1. Those that want to get rid should get their heads checked.

Some valid points on here and some arse. There are five types of fans at home matches: 1) Armchair fans who've only ever gone sporadically. 2) Fans who stopped going for non-Lowe reasons (division, quality, money, family, time etc.). 3) Fans who stopped going because of Lowe. 4) Fans who stopped going for non-Lowe reasons (or were always type 1) but used Lowe as an excuse. 5) Fans who continued to go. Personally I believe the number of genuine 3's was quite low(e), but the number of 4's was quite high. Both dwarfed by 2. But really the number of fans had little impact. Once Murdoch's millions disappeared we were doomed without a takeover. Yorkie, the suggestion that Lowe et. al. pocketed the parachute payments is laughable, it went on unsustainably high player wages and an infrastructure geared to the Premier League. To be honest I'm surprised we lasted as long as we did into the season.

... bad news (nothing happening)? ... good news (happening but no one on here knows about it)? ... good news (something happening, people on here know about it but aren't saying to protect sources etc.) Nothing today. No gossip, no rumours, no boats in the dock, no arabs in a taxi. All very quiet. Why? (PM me if you're ITK!)

I like the references to " Luton Town Supporters Club and Loyal Luton Supporters Club will also provide advice and support to help deliver the great future we have planned." It's like the People's Front of Judea..

Jesus. How old are you two? I didn't know it was half term....

As soon as you realise that I am right and your leader, the happier you will be.

Nice idea, but there was an article in the Echo saying that the average price paid for tickets (once you take into account children/OAPS/concessions etc.) was £14. Happy if you manage to convince everyone to pay full price though... I stand by my figures sir!

Too true. Many sided problem and fans ARE part of it. Started with Hoddle-gate and then turned into a Lowe vs. Anti Lowe division by people operating with only a smidgen of the facts. Clubs that stay united in hardtimes (Man City are a great example) bounce back. I fear we are not that.

Success and bigger crowds would not have kept us up. The more information we have, the more it becomes obvious the suicidal approach by Lowe was Saints playing the last hand. Cheap manager, loan out the stars to recoup some (probably not all) of their wages, youth players on peanuts or gambles who we might be able to sell on. Sure we could have signed a different manager, but double the salary wouldn't get you much. We could have signed different players, but experienced heads (the kind we needed so badly) also cost more. You say bigger crowds would have kept us afloat? I don't agree. An extra 5000 fans at every home game would have made Saints a piddling £1.68m a year. That's BEFORE you take off any costs for stewards, police, staff, utilities, business rates etc. Rasiak alone was costing the club circa £884,000 a year (assuming his salary was £17K pw), add to that other high earners (Euell, Skacel, Davies, Davis and the list goes on) and it's no surprise we were in trouble. Ironically going down to League 1 could have saved us from administration. Firstly, a season on, some contracts would have ended, but more importantly going down triggered wage reduction clauses in player's contracts. Here's the bit that makes me think others are equally culpable as Lowe for our troubles, if not more so for the financial mess. Amazingly, players signed when Lowe wasn't here DIDN'T have the relegation reduction clauses in them. How ****ing stupid is that? And if they're that stupid, what else did they agree to? The ego of the club was writing cheques the body couldn't cash (especially once parachute payments disappeared). Without a buyer/wealthy investor we were (are) shafted.

It costs money we don't have. Plus they're two different companies, didn't someone tell you?

When you add in the cost of wages, the cost of football is astronomical. And Saints are a generally prudent club! I don't know the figures on wages, these are just guesses, but it goes to show there is no such thing as a 'free' transfer. Rasiak - £2m purchase, £17K per week wages, 3 year contract - circa £5million. Euell - Free - £14K per week wages, 2 year contract - circa £2.2m ..... BWP, John, Saga, Skacel. Can anybody make a guess at our total weekly wage bill on the last day of last season? When you do the maths it is no wonder we had to resort to playing kids who'd play for a bag of cola bottles and a play with Mr Lowe's puppy. Jesus. No wonder we're ****ed. Mike Ashley must be bricking it.

Only if the administrator considers the value of the clubs assets to be less than the offer (i.e. better to take the offer than liquidate and sell off the silver). The administrators sole goal (sole goal) is to get the best deal for creditors. If that leaves a going concern, so be it, if not, it is not the administrators concern.

Ok. So who was the Alain Perrin fan....?

.....

Back in the S4E days, I think it was Crab Lungs who was championing Alain Perrin to be our manager (before he managed Pompey). I changed my name to post a response to him thanking him for his support. But there was a lot of name changing going on at the same time (Sir Woody etc. etc.) and the mods stopped it. The wind changed and I was stuck with it. Been like it so long, seems silly to change, even though it has Pompey associations. So there you have it. I blame the mods.

Blame the mods, not me, says Alain Perrin.

Why? Is the plumbing suspect in the manger's office toilet?

" Rupert Lowe returns and declares 'Stanley is my gimp' "

Hand on his waist, pained expression on his face, guy behind concentrating. Does anyone else think he's being bummed?

I think Niemi was a Lowe championed signing. Strachan wanted someone else I think. The signings by panel approach (scouts, coaches, manager, chairman) got a bad rep under Lowe (a convenient stick to beat him with) but, in my opinion, it is the right way to go. The key issue is the balance of power (the manager must dictate what type/position of player is required, not the chairman), but either way it will be the chairman in any club who decides what can be afforded. Picking up on the point about he Lowe stayaways. I really think this is over egged. The thousands that flooded back at the end of the season did so because of Saints' peril (financial and relegation), not because of the chairman leaving. Many people used 'Lowe' as a reason for other reasons to stay away (cash, family, distance, job.... but most of all quality). And there's the nub, the biggest impact on attendances is the performance of the team and the quality of the opposition. Yes, you can argue that Lowe's decisions had a negative impact on this, but it is a vicious circle (lower league position, less crowds, less money, worse players etc.). Clubs like Man City and Newcastle will always come back because the fans will go even in the face of adversity, our support is less resiliant. That said, win a few in League 1 and things may improve.

Was this the same guy who said there'd be a press conference at 2pm, or the guy who said Allen was taking over, or the guy who owned the monkeychicken petting zoo????

Don't worry. When Pinnacle's forensic accountants have finished there will be investment....