the colonel

I've not been able to find an interview where he has send this. I thought he said one step at a time: get to Zero; get out of the bottom 4; top half of the table by 2010 and then go for play-offs. I read it that to get out of this league was a two year programme, knowing that we have to rebuild the team and get confidence back into the club through out. There is lots of reference to the 5 year plan (the project) to get back into the premiership, which I read as two seasons in this league and three in the conference. So as far as I can see AP has done everything he set out to do. I know we were 2 places off the top half at New Year. Yesterday was gutting. most of us were still cellebrating when their goal went it. COYR

In the recession of the 90s I was in a similar position in the construction industry. When approx’ 250,000 had lost their job in building. Wrote 100s of letters and applied for tonnes of jobs. To get experience I ended up writing to companies offering my services on a self-employed basis. But it meant I started to build up experience and small firms would pass on my details to others. Also they could employ me on an as when needed basis and not have to worry about tax and Nation Insurance. It's hard work being self-employed and trying to build up contacts, but you sound as though you could handle it. It took me a couple of years before I had any decent money coming in. But once the economy started to pick up I was in a better position as I’d been out there working and had my wits about me. The downside is you have to sort out your own tax. But I found I could usually find an accountant that would do my tax return for a couple of hundred quid. Another down side is dealing with the social.... convincing them that you are still available for work when initially you may only be working a few hours a week. Which means you lose your benefits while only working those few hours, but rather that than living off the state. Twenty years later I have my own practice in Central London. F.... king hard work to get here but well worth it. So try not to be too despondent things will get better.... Good luck.

I'm no fan of Lowe, glad to see the back of him, but doesn't the things going on at skates, to some extent, vindicate the way he tried to run Saints financially. i.e. keeping expenditure within our income boosted by the sale of academy players. Of course it fell foul due to turnover of managers and subsequent payouts, flooding the club with quantity rather than quality of players, never attracting any investment, etc. I know the list can go on but prinicpally he tried to keep Saints in the black.

I think you'll find that if you speak to anyone in football or journos (my other half is a journo with a national so I get to meet a few) they think both Saints and skates are a couple nothing clubs with their own petty squabbles and at the moment skates are boxing well above their weight and Saints are well below. Equating to neither being a large club or a small club. To sum it up those in the industry probably think both clubs should be around the top of the championship, as they will never offer anything more than outsiders chance if/when in the top league. But having said that Saints have constantly been referred to as one of the big boys of Div 1 I can't say I ever remember skates being referred to as the same when the roles were reversed. All this rubbish about yours is bigger than mine is just banter and most fans on both sides, with any common sense, know that there isn't much difference between the two clubs.

yeah but at least they won the FA Cup and it was well worth it. Well thats what one the blue few told me the other day. twwat.

If Lens require my advice on debt recovery against UK institutions I might be able to provide my services for free this once. But isn't also true that if a Winding Up Petition is served and they go into administration then Lens are likely only to recieve a few pence in the pound so why would they do that. Surely it is better to sue so to try get the money off them.

check out 11:44 earlier today on this thread.

I was there with a m8 last night and this happen right in front of us. We were only a few seats along from the skates and chanting to the chimes chorus......'**** club no fans'....then Lampard came up to take a corner and turned towards them and started counting. Funny as fuuuck. So those of you that know some of the blue few it has to be worth asking how many he counted to and if he needed both hands?

Well I will be there so that's one more.....oooops no it won't I will be in the Shed End...come on Chelsea.

yes but still look better than skates. but that isnt difficult.

wouldn't work on Mozilla Firefox but ok on Explorer

against anyone!

No he's not he is only 62 FFS!

Link? I don't remember him saying anything of the kind?

link?

Where are our fishy friends I've not seen them on here for a while? Is it that things aren't going so good for them and they are scared to put their scaly heads above water? Surely not.

Met Paul Merson this afternoon. Asked him to dish the dirt on MLT but as I already new, he said he is one of the best and one of the good guys, nothing to tell. I don't rate PM much on his commentry on Sky but he thought Saints are doing really well and that we would get automatic prmotion this season. He never said much about 'arry other than when he first spoke to him 'arry said that pompey are **** and he needs to replace the whole squad.....which then as we know lead to their promotion!!!

no way don't want that freak anywhere near red n white.

they just told me that they are unlikely to be receiving any more.

B*ll*cks ticket office just told me they have sold out and unlikely to get anymore!!!

Met one of the blue few tonight near Oxford. Quiet amusing. Q. Asked him whether the necessary monies were through to prevent admin'. A. errrr didn't know. errrrr what money.....errrr ain't 'eard we gone outta business Q. could be hard times or good? A. errrr but we won the FA Cup last year Q. that wasn't the question, but was it worth jeopardising your club? A. errrr well we won the FA Cup that what matters Q. so the FA Cup more important than your club? A. yeah we won the cup. Others laughed at him (no not Saints Fans) while he looked confused as to why? We left him to it.

In the late 70's - early 80's I used to work in the newsagent on Bevois Valley and had to stay open an extra hour during the footie season waiting for the 'the pink' to arrive. Lots of foootie chat with the regulars who would be waiting in the shop for it to turn up. Used to always sell out, but keeping one back to take home for my dad to check the pools coupon. Will be a real shame for it to go.

MLG you are correct. NG if you want to go into 6th place you have to do better than the existing 6th place not 7th!!!!

is anyone else having problems with saintsplayer? it's saying not available yet, check later!!

That's easy, all he has to say is 'recession and what a fantastic club they have for looking after the fans in these difficult times' and as usual he will deflect the question or no answer at all. He's been doing it for years on this website (inc previous versions) sad little man that he is.