Well what can I say, I was warmly greeted and Rob made me a coffee and I offered to share my biscuits (half of which I'd ate by the time I got there) whilst we waited for Mr O'Neill. Had a chat with Rob whilst waiting and he was saying how hard it is today to say anything without it being twisted or taken out of context, like the supposed trip that day of Mr O'Neill to see Mr Khan in London.
Whilst waiting I saw some old familiar faces like Mark Turner (you still look the same
) and Liam Smith with his Man Utd top on
and later Buzzer and it made me realise again just what a community club it really is. Everyone was cheerful and going about the place with a smile you wouldn't think they were all close to maybe losing their jobs in the future.
Anyway when Mr O'Neill then came out of his office we chatted by the touchline for well over an hour, Rob was there nearly the entire time too. We just chatted in general about the club and he seemed genuinely optimistic about the club and the future. I asked the questions I wanted to ask and they both gave frank and honest answers and I felt they both cared for the club a great deal and it wasn't just a job to them. How good it must be to have a job you feel real passion for I thought.
I'm finding it hard to explain anything in great detail without saying things which were both personal to both Mr O'Neill and Rob and I felt they didn't really need to mention to me and I ought not to really repeat on here. Needless to say I think the club is in safe hands with them and if they can work with Mr Khan all the better, but I get the impression the share issue is a last resort but who can blame him I suppose he's in charge and he wants to stay there.
They did say the Vice Chairman (Peter Marsden) was going to be seeing Mr Khan but I notice he says no one has been in touch with him on the forum so I don't know what to say about that. I got the impression they are open to talking to Mr Khan but in the long term they want the club to stand on its own feet and live within its means.
They thought the fund might have been further on but they mentioned the Rovers game and a few other events they had planned and they made it seem any shortfall would be made up by the Directors one way or the other.
I made a point of saying I just wanted him to stand up for himself and explain his side of the story in the press and radio etc. His view was that it would make things worse perhaps and divert attention from raising the money which I thought made sense really. I said his absence to me made it seem like he didn't really care but all I can say after meeting him is that he does a great deal.
I would just like to thank Rob for inviting me down to the club today and to Mr O'Neill for taking time out to talk to a fan. I suggest if anyone wants to ask either of these two people anything they get in touch with them they both seemed open and honest in all their answers. These people don't want the club to cease just as much as any fan out there doesn't want the club to die, its not just a job to them its really their day to day life.