Fitzhugh Fella

You got it in a nutshell, Bern, it was the pressure of the fans that finally persuaded NC to back off - for now!

Just back having watched the first half (I have an early start tomorrow). Goodish game - had trouble recognising Saints players apart from Bart and the two centre-halves, Martin and Tafozellio (sp). Oxlade-Chamberlain caught the eye though, very lively and dangerous - has grown a bit too. Big crowd meant it was impossible to get a decent view.

I suppose because really as it is all ML's money, it is his business and he'd rather not reveal the full price of what he has paid. One of the downsides of being owned by one rich man - but hey I am not knocking it before the bricks start getting hurled.

Well, that character reference you have given him has cheered me up D.

I think you might get a bit of flak for that last sentence D, whatever people think about APs tactics, he is well liked by the fans and now is certainly not the time to get rid. It should have been either last May or Xmas if we are not in a top 6 position.

Cheers Hypo - it is a shame that one of the most energetic but fair posters such as yourself are disillusioned.

I agree 100% Ron, you know me, I would not have posted a rumour until I was pretty happy there is an element of truth in it. When I started the Pompey takeover collapsing thread it was just a rumour passed on to me by a journalist and 12 months on it is still entertaining this forum. A month ago I heard from an ex player with good connections that Marcus was looking to sell. I gave it some thought, didn't believe it and so didn't post it. It is a sad state of affairs when anonymous posters resort to making remarks about one's job and personal life simply because they don't like your views on how the club is governed.

One day when this is all over remind me to tell you who the informant is.

A fair point. I think NC definitely wants what is best for Saints, no doubt about it. However if he does sack AP because "they don't get on" I do think that would be a mistake. I hope it does not happen but there are quite a few at SMS who think it will...... regardless. I never forget a few months after Wilde's arrival I started hearing all was not well from insiders and ex players. I did not want to believe them because I was so sure Wilde was the saviour but I was wrong and the rumours were correct.

I still hear quite a bit from the "old guard" but like I say do not take them seriously. This source is not old school nor does he/she have an axe to grind - one of the reasons I am concerned enough to post it on here.

I hear lots of stuff from reasonably good sources but rarely post because most of it is uncorroborated. Dodgy rumours can be divisive, and contrary to what some would say on here I want promotion as much as the next fan. However, this time I know my source, the rumour is corroborated by more than one person and I am growing very worried that things are not what they should be in order to meet the bookie's and indeed the fans' expectations. This forum is surely the place to air such concerns? I am told AP is likely to leave, not neccessarily because NC doesn't rate his managerial ability but it's more a case of they don't get on at all and so, considered opinion has it, that it is just "a matter of time" before there is a parting of the ways. I sincerely hope I am wrong, time will tell.

Papa Waigo's agent at the game yesterday, a deal could be sorted this week NC been on holiday for 3 weeks, one week to go, flew in especially for game AP won't make it to Xmas no matter how we are doing last home game of 09-10 NC told pre-match pitch announcer on no account praise AP Don't shoot the messenger - just passing on what was doing the rounds upstairs. All good sources.

Amen, thank God there are still people on this Forum who appear to have a modicum of humanity.

Can I be the first to predict this thread will one day surpass the Pompey takeover thread? Also I am not going to add any more personal thoughts until Ottery gives us the benefit of his legendary wisdom on these unfolding and riveting revelations. Nick Illingsworth is innocent.....................We need a signing!

Oh those were the days!

Absolutely spot on

I agree with your sentiments MM, but the bit about SFC not being the property of NC sums it all up - he (or his employer ML) owns us and there is nothing we can do about it apart from blind support! This is what I said 12 months ago. So far so good and I would like to think we are in good hands but..................... I have to admit to having doubts how NC conducts himself. My personal opinion is it will -eventually -end in tears. When? God knows but it would be wise if some sort of Plan B was being formulated. In the meantime lets hope it holds together this season and we justify our odds of being favs for winning the League. It is possible but too much more rocking the boat will make it harder. We should be grateful for them taking over but at the same time we are now perhaps waking up to some of the drawbacks of being in a situation where our views actually count for nought.

Alps - I don't know NI at all well, but he seems a decent enough bloke who perhaps was projected into a role he didn't particularly want but one which the lazy media find convenient? I don't know. And I don't know the ins and outs of the season ticket refusal, but if it is true then the very least a fan of long standing (home and away) deserves is an explanation. As to the JPT incident - whether or not Nick I was responsible or not I have no idea and it sounds a right balls up but the two events should not be interwoven. Again this seems to me to be a case of a lack of correct communication

For comments as strident and condemning as yours, I assume you have met him? I assume you have heard him claim he speaks for all fans?

Thank God, a sensible post

Sums it up in a nutshell for me

I agree with you and CEC, it is wise to see the goods perform before congratulating ourselves, however his higher league pedigree suggests we have reasons to be optimistic. As for "Palace's finances are sorted" I think you will find there is still little money there with the consortium taking over having just enough to get the club out of administration. I am loking forward to seeing how Burley gets on with no money. Would still like to see another midfielder signed and a back up for Lambert. Bart going walkabout is another concern.

You really are quite a bizarre little man. I was just giving my opinion as to the way forward. Hoping to get the job as club historian - err have been in that position for 13 years and it is ongoing. Stirring the ****? - I leave that to people like you. Why don't you debate properly - e mail me duncan@duncanholley.co.uk but there again... you aint got the bollix.

I think one day ML will sell. That could potentially be quite dangerous inasmuch the next owner may not be as benevolent as Marcus. Really, if we had any sense we should be organising ourselves right now to ensure that come the moment the fans are in a position to buy the club (a la Barcelona style). I am sure Marcus would rather sell to the fans than someone unscrupulous. The Liebherr/Cortese dream will not last forever and we should not fool ourselves it will. We never want to be in the same position we found ourselves last April - we got away with it then, we may not be so lucky next time!

Indeed I did, and I took flak. The man is answerable to no one except Liebherr and we must accept that good and bad. Perhaps the missing link is a really astute Director of Football who knows the English game and the expectations of the English fans. Cortese would be foolish to alienate the true fans with bad PR, he is no fool, but he doesn't do humble either and sometimes a bit of humility gets you through.