[Oldgobbin]

Well said Tommy! As another of the “old guard” (I reckon I started watching round about the same time as you), I too am becoming quite dispirited at the present situation. Like yourself, I was positively euphoric when we returned to the league and would be totally devastated if we were to lose that league status again so quickly.
However, the way things are looking at the moment, I’m afraid that is looking more and more likely with each passing week. As you say, the set-up at Stanley seems to be such that it has all suddenly got beyond us as a club and we seem totally out of our depth. This is apparent on several fronts:
a) Player recruitment. Do the powers not credit us with enough intelligence to see that we are being taken for a ride? “We’re going to sign two/three/ five (delete as appropriate) players tomorrow/ the day after/next week (again – delete as appropriate). For God’s sake, if we haven’t got the money to do anything at all, then TELL US, instead of stringing us along with false half-promises.
b) Ground developments. Here again, the club persists in making empty promises (roof, bars etc) that just do not materialise. If it’s not going to happen, then SAY SO instead of the “this day, next day sometime never” guff that we are fed on a regular basis.
c) The club shop. Money received and goods not sent; limited stock, failure to reply to e-mails, etc. It all looks SO amateurish and gives the impression that the club does not care.
d) The “fishy” website. If this is meant to be the main disseminator of information, particularly for those of us who live a fair way from Accy, then it is, at the moment, failing miserably. As someone said earlier, has EVERYONE gone to Spain, or to the moon, or elsewhere. A couple of weeks ago, we were promised that there might be reports on games, as a result of which Mike, who used to provide the excellent links to other reports, seems to have stopped doing so. Therefore, now we have NOTHING, except indications that reports are “pending” for the last three games. This is particularly galling for longer-distance fans, who don’t get to see the local papers. Yes, I know they have websites, but that’s not the point – surely the club would be held in higher esteem if IT kept us informed. Thank goodness for Kipax, who at least keeps us supplied with his excellent photos.
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I think I’ve ranted on for quite long enough now. I don’t have the answers and, not living in the area, am unable to offer help of a concrete nature. Honestly, though, I don’t see myself as a moaner; just as someone who cares passionately about the club I have supported for half a century. I know money is in short supply, but honesty, openness and communication are worth a lot and would, at least, keep the average fan “onside” with what the club is trying to achieve.
In the meantime, I’ll “keep the faith”, because I know that in John Coleman and Jimmy Bell we have what is probably the best management team we’ve ever had (including Walter Galbraith). At the moment, however, we’re expecting them to lead us with their hands tied behind their backs – and I fear they will only do it for so long before they too feel as dispirited as I do today and move on to greener pastures. I just hope and pray that we turn the corner before that happens!