Accrington Web - Are we really a league club?

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Are we really a league club?

I came home this evening after travelling up to watch last night's game. I have now read all the posts - and they make interesting reading.

I agree that we played well in the first half, and it was great to see Toddy back to something like his old form. But there were worries even in the first half. For example, I did not see Phil Doughty make a single tackle - and his distribution was poor.

But the second half was a different matter. Let's not blame the officials - they made poor decisions affecting both teams.

Why on earth did JC not make any substitutions? Even if the players were not tired - and some clearly were - surely a different approach from new players could have borne fruit. It would have given the opposition something new to think about. Why was Mark King on the bench anyway? He has played superbly so far. Why not try David Mannix who seems to have impressed on his only start for us?

But there were other issues, too.

Following the recent arrival of my first grandson, I wanted to buy some baby items in the store. Apparently they are all out of stock.

The man sitting next to me had wanted to buy a programme. He said that the programme store had closed when he arrived at 7.25 and he wondered if programmes were available elsewhere in the ground.

Tannoyman announced that there would be a programme draw for a signed Rommy Boco shirt. No such draw was made. When I asked him about this at the end of the game, he said he hadn't received a text about it.

Regrettably, I am now coming to the conclusion that the club is not functioning as a Football League club at all. None of what I have written is seeking to blame individuals. It seems to me that the problems lie much deeper than that. It is tempting but possibly too easy to blame individuals. The problems with the club are systemic.

I now feel that it is time for a huge rethink about the way the club functions - as a business and as a football club. I sincerely hope that we survive in the league this season. Assuming that we do, and as soon as we do, it is time for that rethink. Team management issues are part of a far wider picture that reflects our failure to plan properly for our entry into the Football League. I KNOW that staff work hard and do their very best with limited resources. But unless there is a change in outlook and a much more professional approach is adopted, I just cannot see us surviving in the Football League for very long.

This has not been an easy post to write, and no doubt there will be some who disagree with me. Can I make one plea first, though? Please don't mention (again!) lack of financial resouces. Professionalism costs nothing.