Barry the Badger

That is complete rubbish CB. I have not taken people saying we can get promoted within 3 years and turned it into people saying it will be easy. But hey you keep twisting things to ensure your argument makes sense in your head. I have said myself that it is possible for us to get promoted within that time. I am not a doom monger, just concerned about what I think are overly high expectations. I have spoken to a number of people (and one has appeared on this thread) who think promotion will be easy. It is not in my imagination. You are saying you don't think that view is widespread, I think it is and I think that you are wrong.

I've not changed my mind. I think it is possible that we could get promoted in 2-3 seasons but also I think anybody expecting it or thinking it will be easy will be in for a shock. I'm not sure that we as fans are quite geared up for what a bloody hard slog L1 is going to be and in my opinion the quicker we face up to it the better. Fans thinking that it's going to be a piece of p*ss are not going to help the cause as they will turn on the team as soon as their unrealistic expectations are not met.

It implies that I do not take it for granted that we will go back up. It doesn't imply that I don't think it's possible.

Where have I said that I think it is terribly unrealistic to think we may get promoted in two or three seasons? I think it's perfectly possible but a lot of people seem to be taking it as given that it will happen. In my opinion a lot of peoples expectations are too high, it is going to be anything but easy.

I was one of those who said that when we came down to the CCC "a chance to rebuild", "we will be a big club for that league" etc. At the end of the day you don't get promoted for having more supporters and a bigger stadium than the other teams. We will have a slight advantage in L1 due to our 'reputation' but you have to use that advantage intelligently and history has shown us that is not always as straightforward as it should be.

Well done, very clever of you. The post that prompted me to start the thread was http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=310881&postcount=23 but this is something I have picked up on from a few forums and from speaking to Saints fans. Ok so maybe I shouldn't have said "on this site" but rather "the feeling I get from many fans" or something to that effect. Must remember that the £5 I pay includes an excellent service where mods/admin make you feel like a **** for trying to post a genuine point for discussion.

There is a difference between thinking and believing we can get back up in 2 seasons and expecting it or taking it for granted.

I'm pretty sure thats what Nottingham Forest and Leeds fans thought too. Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong but I think as fans we need to be realistic, this is not an easy league to get out of.

You want me to go back and count? I have seen it written numerous times since our relegation.

The number of times I've heard this from fellow fans over the last few months scares me. I'm interested in what peoples expectations are for the next 2-3 seasons because a lot seem to take it for granted that we will go back up...

Ok Glenn.

The trouble with the current administration laws is that they are supposed to punish clubs who try to 'cheat' their way to success by spending money they don't have. As far as the CCC goes, it only actually punishes the teams who try and fail, whereas those who manage to sneak into the prem off the back of it get away with it as the prem tv money saves them!

I'm not actually sure that cheaper tickets would bring that many people back.

I think it just goes to show how much sh*t we've had at the club in recent years that many are impressed with Wotte simply for hanging around and saying the right things.

All talk.

But relegation wasn't confirmed when we went into admin.

Rudi Skacel?

The Egil has landed. Happy days.

Whatever happens there will be a Southampton Football team to support, be it AFC Southampton or whatever, something would rise from the ashes.

It also leaves smaller clubs terrified of losing their players for nothing, meaning they have absolutely no realistic chance of holding onto players once an offer comes in. Don't agree with the idea of handicaps, but some sort of salary cap/budget cap would make a more level playing field. Also liked the idea of setting ticket prices within each division.

A nice touch would have been for him to stay for more than 6 months.

There may or may not be an announcement of a preferred bidder. For a while we all thought there was going to be and now we're not so sure. That's about it.

Rimmer: "Step up to Red Alert!" Kryten: "Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb."

Can I just say.... AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! Sorry. I can't take it anymore.

As much as I would love to believe otherwise. I know you're right. I have a feeling a lot of people are going to be dissapointed, people looking on the Times rich list and all that stuff. At the end of the day, whoever buys the club, I hope we are just grateful to them for saving us from Non League football rather than lambasting them for not being uber rich.