tartanowl

We didn't buy any players. They were signed on bosman frees.

It is indeed.

Why? We are still honouring the players contracts and the payment will be made.

Of course we will still be a threat. We have arguably the strongest squad in the division. That is why the club signed the players early. They knew it was coming. It is a petition NOT a winding up order. It would be far more serious if it was a winding up order. We have cashflow problems like many businesses. We are in no immediate danger of administration or a 10 point deduction. Our bank has agreed to extend our overdraft facility to make up for the loss in Championship revenue so short term we should be ok. Long term it is uncertain and it will be even more so if we fail to get promoted this season. I will admit we are definitely playing a dangerous game by not paying the taxman on time. If the matchday revenue for the first game won't cover the costs we have 2 options: Sell Lee Grant, pay off the tax bill, tread water for a year, hope we get promoted at the first time of asking. Accept the £5m investment offer on the table from the American group Club 9 Sports and carry on as we are albeit with an additional £400k per annum 'managment fee'.

No rumour its fact. £500k in upaid tax bill apparently. Only weeks after the chairman said admin was never going to be an option and that we had agreed a new deal with the Co-op Bank.

We had him on loan three times from Derby. Laws used to like him. Luke is fairly quick, he has bundles of energy and will keep running non-stop for 90 minutes. He is a real worker. We played him on the left wing for a few games and that seemed to suit him better than up front. Unfortunately he's not that great in the air, he doesn't link up the play too well, and his goalscoring record could be better. Some of our fans rated him. I didn't. I think the fact that he tried hard, ran around a lot, and put the effort in was the reason why some fans liked him. To be honest I thought he was a pretty limited footballer. Decent pro but I won't be fearing him next season if he signs for you.

I think it will be a very tight promotion race. I can see Huddersfield joining us in the 80s as well.

We will both be in the 80s.

Greatest hope for this season?- Promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking. Biggest fear?- Failure to get promoted. Most important player?- We have several important players but if I had to pick one it would be Jermaine Johnson. Terrace favourite?- Tommy Spurr. Keep an eye out for...- Liam Palmer. 18 years old, attacking midfielder, Scotland U-19 cap and academy player of the year. This boy can play. Player you'd happily drive to his next club?- On last seasons form Darren Potter. One change you'd make at your club? Re-banning the Kop Band. Have we got the right manager?- Without question. Points per game we would have easily still been in the Championship if we had Alan Irvine for the whole of last season. He has made some very good signings and released a lot of the wasters. What advice would you give him?- When it suits play Jermaine Johnson up front away from home, and mix up the set pieces and takers a bit more. We may as well have given the ball straight back to the opposition last season with Potter taking them. Which team do you most want to beat this season?- All of them but if I had to pick one it would be Colchester. I've still not got over them beating us 3-0 at Hillsborough. Opposition player you despise?- None I can think of. Opposition player you secretly admire?- Scott Arfield at Huddersfield. He is a top signing. Where will we finish?- Champions.

I agree. Whilst Huddersfield have signed some decent players I don't think they have enough to win the league. It's going to be a difficult season for us but I expect us to both make the top 2.

I genuinely think on paper our squad (currently) is stronger than yours.

Personally I would say we have more strength in depth than you. It's all opinions though.

Dark Owl is definitely in with the idiots. I know you have a good team and I am wary of certain players. You are stronger in some areas and we are stronger in others. I'm looking forward to the coming season it should be very entertaining.

I must admit I wasn't impressed with him yesterday and if you look at our forum he is the one signing people were nervous about. It is our obvious and glaring weakness in the team. Buxton, Hinds and Otsemobor are all fairly average footballers.

Some disappointing comments in here guys and girls. I'm not sure why you are getting so wound up. Dark Owl is a f*cking idiot and is mocked regularly on that forum. We were poor yesterday but we had a number of young lads in the team and some big players missing completely. It was a typical pre-season game and it was just like watching them training. Pre-season games mean very little I'm not concerned about the result. We won our last game 9-0 but I know it doesn't matter one jot. It's how well you start the season and how fit your squad is. We know how difficult it is in this league. It took us 2 seasons to get promoted last time. We are not disrespecting the league or the opposition we will face. We have every right to be confident about our team and promotion chances. We have cleared out the rubbish in our squad and signed almost an entire teams worth of new players. Nearly all of whom would get into most if not all sides in the division. Our starting XI is far different from the team that got us relegated. Our form under Irvine last season too would have been good enough over the entire season to finish comfortably mid-table and even fairly close to the playoffs. It was Brian Laws that relegated us with a horrendous start to the season. The squad is in place, it is improved since we were relegated, and we have the right man in charge. I am confident and I don't see why our fans shouldn't be.

Clinton Morrison the lastest to sign. So we have the following to choose from up front... Neil Mellor Marcus Tudgay Jermaine Johnson Paul Heffernan Clinton Morrison I'm happy with that!

Thanks for the welcome and I hope you are right with regards to Irvine turning Otsemobor's career round. No offence intended to your Carlisle supporting mate, but the fact that Simek is even signing for a club like Carlisle now says it all. He will still be a good signing for them, but Frank was interesting Premiership clubs a couple of seasons ago, was in the USA national squad and was at the forefront of our then Championship team. He was the first name on our team sheet. It's a real shame what has happened to Frank because he could have done and been so much more. He's only 25 but sadly for Frank his ankle injury has had a major impact on him, he has lost several yards of pace, his general fitness has deteriorated massively, and he is substantially weaker mentally now too. It was heart-breaking watching him come back after his injury and months later he still hadn't changed. He may still be able to make a career in football but unfortunately for him it seems he will no longer be able to be the same player. It's a real shame because he is a lovely, genuine man unlike so many other egotistical footballers these days.

Congratulations Mr Webb. I'm not a fan of his but I will admit he has had a good world cup. Probably because he had a mare on our biggest game of the season in May.

Remind us all who was responsible for the sale and destruction of manufacturing and industry in this country...

It will happen at some point I'm convinced of it. It will take a really big club going under before anything is seriously done about it first though.

A fair reflection.

Anything that isn't red and white stripes is good by me. In seriousness that is quite a nice change.

Some interesting views there and it confirms my fear that he is probably not the best signing and the weakest that Alan has made this pre-season. Thanks for the opinions lads and lasses. Is this going to become a running theme? Yes if it needs repeating, I do think Tudgay is a better footballer than Lambert. As I said in another thread it is all about opinions. And for all I care about England I'd be quite happy for Otsemobor to play for them.

We had a very good right back in USA international Frank Simek until recently but his career looks finished now after he suffered a serious injury. A real shame at such a young age and unfortuantely he was deemed not worthy of a new contract. He has lost several yards of pace and he doesn't look anything like the same player and he probably won't ever be the same again. To be honest out of the several players we have signed this pre-season Otsemobor is the one signing our fans are not overly enthused about. I would like to hear your opinions on the lad as you will have no doubt seen him play more regularly. What is he like? What are his strengths and weaknesses? Thanks in advance Saints fans

Paid for by the directors of the club outwith their transfer budget.