CHAPEL END CHARLIE

It's not a major disaster but I'd say (rightly or wrongly - the full facts are obscure) that this sorry tale has damaged our reputation as a buying club somewhat . Perhaps one day a player we really want will be advised by his agent/club to talk to someone else rather than us because our 'word' can't be trusted anymore . We must do better in future .

The hydrogen fuel cell may well be the medium term future of the car (indeed the potential of this technology is truly exciting) but in the short term I think the hybrid has a part to play in reducing emissions . We don't yet know the price of the Volt but if you could sell it profitably for only a modest premium over ICE powered cars it could be the biggest leap forward since the Model T .

I bag Paul Wotton as The Old Kent Road .

Chris Perry has a better injury record then many players still in their 20's .

I'd love to see the state of their pitch after Saints fans armed with a shovel had been let loose on it .

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Chevrolet-Volt-All-Electric/246503/ One day all cars will be like this - and I reckon that day may not be too far in the future because this little Chevy makes conventional cars start to look obsolete .

4 Left Backs could be seen as a extravagance . Two of them (Harding & Mills) are both good players .

I've been told by the club that those seeking ticket refunds re the rearranged Huddersfield fixture can obtain them by visiting the ticket office in person or returning the tickets via the post .

I think the clubs finances (although infinitely healthier than they were I'm happy to say) are nevertheless still a matter for some legitimate concern . What would happen for instance if Markus Liebherr (God forbid) were to fall under the wheels one of his family's enormous diggers tonight and the cash tap was suddenly turned off as a result ? I don't know - I don't think anybody does .

Rubbish TV last night so a visit to the DVD collection was very much in order . My hand was mysteriously guided to Stanley Kramer's seldom shown 1963 cold war gem 'On The Beach' and difficult viewing as it undoubtedly is I can't say I regretted it . For those unfamiliar with it the premise of this film (a faithful version of Neville Shute's fine novel) is that a devastating nuclear war has destroyed all human and animal life in the Northern Hemisphere and that the resulting cloud of deadly radiation 'Fallout' is now making its remorseless way south to kill off the surviving population in southern areas (Australia in our story) - Humanity is facing its extinction . I first saw this back in the early 70's and it made a profound impact on me at the time that has never quite left me . We've all seen modern movies dealing with threats to Humanity but let me assure you this is very different to the Hollywood special effects blockbusters you may be familiar with - everyone's life expectancy is now 5 months and no act of daring do or heroic sacrifice is going to change anything in this world . The main leads are Gregory Peck as 'Captain Dwight Towers' commanding the USS Sawfish (the last US submarine) and 'Moira' the desperately needy Aussie girl he falls for (Ava Gardener) . This touchingly portrayed relationship is not only doomed by the approaching apocalypse but also by Dwight's refusal to 'betray' his (now dead of course) US wife and children . The integrity with which Peck & Gardener play this is out (along with Mockingbird) is perhaps the summit of Peck's distinguished career . Strong support is on offer by 'Psycho' star Anthony Perkins and the surprising good Fred Astair - both American actors playing Australian roles presumably to appeal to the US box-office . The highlight of the film for me is when Towers takes his Nuclear sub north for one last mission to check out radiation levels off the Baring Straight and investigate an unexplained Morse Code radio transmission from supposedly lifeless San Diego - I won't say what they find but rest assured you'll never forget it . And so to the end and what a hard ending it is - those who have read the book may say the film pulls some of it punches in the final scenes but I'd say that's because in some ways this part of the book is quite unfilmable , I'll just leave it to your imaginations what scenes dealing with loving parents having to cope with euthanising their own children are like . You won't leave this film feeling joyous for sure , but maybe you will have been made to really feel something - and just how many modern films can claim that ? 9/10 .

I can assure you Sir that Bournemouth & Poole are different towns with distinctly differing history's and I resent you lumping them together :mad: Furthermore I strongly suspect that there are as many (if not more) Saints fans in Poole than Bmth ones .

I'd be most interested to see the factual evidence you are basing this statement on thanks .

The basic objection is that the more private information a government has about individuals, the more it is able to control and manipulate them - I just don't trust government not to abuse this power . The basic idea of democracy is that the people are in charge, and that governments are merely their tool. As for the infallibility of DNA evidence what happens if you just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with no alibi ? How many places do you visit or items do you touch per day that can leave a DNA footprint ? We have seen far too many people wrongly imprisoned based on "irrefutable" evidence from experts and their systems. The first time this system saw an innocent person imprisoned would throw the whole idea into total disarray . I repeat I have no objection to specific crime suspects being DNA tested - as much to prove innocence as well as guilt , but as for anything beyond that ... well lets just say I vote no .

On the anniversary of said companies creation I understand - so annual accounts published in July/August maybe ?

I was told on here that as a UK registered company SFC will have to lodge audited accounts in the usual manner - but as I'm no accountant that may be completely wrong .

Well we'll have to wait and see when the annual accounts are published but I suspect the wage bill with quality managers and players on the books such as Lambert/Jaidi/Hammond is increasing again rather than decreasing . The points you make regarding mortgage payments and debt are perfectly valid of course . With around 40 senior players in the squad now and a large stadium to maintain I suspect our running costs are twice (or more) that of many other 3rd Division clubs , and even with a 20k 'gate' I question whether that can be sustainable in the long run without promotion . All provided of course that creating that rare beast - a profitable football club - is the owners true objective .

There's no such thing as society eh ? The principle is that the fortunate healthly help cover the costs of the unfortunate sick - what's wrong with that exactly ? Are you arguing only people will little or no real need for insurance should be able to afford it , or does increasing the already generous profit margins of the insurance industry hold some particular interest to you ? Any car driver on here will confirm that the main principle of the insurance industry is to never pay out on any claim if they can avoid it - but making insurance a virtuly risk free activity seems to miss the point rather . If you DNA tested a baby and could predict that said child ran a high risk of developing a serious condition (say MS for instance) then the person concerned might never be able to afford health insurance or have MS specifically excluded from their policy - I can't for the life of me see any social good in that development . If your DNA Profile is not your own private business then God alone knows what is .

I note the little 'dig' at the Echo at the end of the press release , Nicola Cortese is seemingly not a chap to be crossed lightly . As for Jose Fonte I can't add much to what everyone else has already said but add my own welcome to this great club and make the obvious observation that we will almost certainly be paying him more than Palace have been (in a division above us) and our club must be running a (near) CCC level wage bill on a L1 income . This is no problem as long as the owner is prepared to keep the cash taps open but should that stream of money ever dry up for any reason we could find ourselves in trouble again one day . We really have to be promoted this season or next with this relatively expensive squad we are building - or Mr Liebherr will start to find a lot of red ink on the SFC annual accounts before very long I fear .

Why does reading all that remind me of this?

I can't see any Premier League clubs knocking on our door demanding Alan Pardew's services just yet - he's done OK so far but our results have hardly been exceptional enough to make the football world outside of Hampshire take much notice . EPL Chairman on the hunt for a new manager tend to look for the latest 'bright young thing' to make a name for himself or an really top class manager - and let's face it Pardew's age and mixed record of success means he hardly falls into either category . As for any move to the Championship I can't really see that happening either , few if any clubs in that division are really 'bigger' (or wealthier ) than SFC and to be frank we'll probably get there ourselves before very long . So I reckon Alan Pardew will be here for a while - but football being football that's likely to be one of the most dangerous predictions I've ever made on here .

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/246314/

It'll be interesting to see which brave soul has provided PFC with their latest cash injection - or I should say 'drip feed' . With their credit rating presumably equaling that of Lehman Brothers if its another loan I'd imagine the interest rate charged could well be 'substantial' as they say in banking circles , and God alone knows what security they have left to offer anybody .

Movie buffs may recall the old Peter Sellers movie 'Being There' in which an incompetent fool accidentally becomes President of the USA somehow , I sometimes think Anthony Pulis has woken up one morning to find himself a professional footballer for reasons no one quite understands The jokes on us however as we are paying his wages .

Good for you - it's a total pain in the ar5e for me on the other hand as I've got 2 extra tickets for mates to come and they'll never be able to make a rearranged midweek date .

After years of frustration I have wonder of wonders (just this week as it happens) finally been able to buy a match ticket on the bloody online booking system - as I've done nothing different to my knowledge I wonder if the system has been 'debugged' at last . Not before time if it has .