alehouseboys

...but look at our situation in 2003, we had a good manager who could have bought in some decent players (I'd have taken the likes of Melbranque, etc.). We were filling SMS to bursting (there was talk of increasing capacity), we were in Europe the squad required strengthening for extra fixtures, we sold Bridgey. Someone mentioned we only made £4m from cup receipts, I remember it said we made a £1m from 'Cup Final' merchandise and then the Bridge £7m. If that wasn't the time to 'speculate' then when was it ever likely to be?

Ahem...aint 'chichester' in Sussex?

You're right...he much preferred to vent his 'hysterical tirades' against, and I quote, "the cancer" that is Crouch/McMenemy/the 'real' fans/etc. Very sensible, damn nice bloke.

...well your hero said we were "bigger than Tottenham (North London Yobbos)..." does that mean he's really just full os shiiiiii..............................? :shock:

...or...if we're bought out in the next week or so (and if it's true!!!) then a very nice immediate financial return on their investment...

I still believe they'll be a late burst of ticket sales but there's little doubt many believe 'someone will buy us' as we keep hearing "...30-something interested parties lined up...". When you read that it's understandable some are gonna think we'll be alright. Maybe today's Echo will wake a few up to the reality.

Why can't we at least demand the 10% - 3,000 - 'cos if they can segregate the end with 2,100 Saints fans then surely they must be able to do it with 3,000?

If Crouch knows 'the real situation' and it really is that bad then why would he throw even more of his hard-earned straight down the toilet...he's already lost a small fortune. Aint sounding good.

Maybe it could feature an article about all our 'appy yesteryears...and maybe we could call it 'The Soul Cellar'...oh, maybe not..........................

I reckon it will sell-out, or very close to it. As the week wears on, and the dust settles on Saturday's debacle (yet again) fans will realise the gravity of the situation but as usual and typical of Saints fans it will be all last minute. If any of the 120,000 that applied for the 2003 FA Cup Final tickets are undecided about next Saturday then wake up...THIS COULD BE THE LAST CHANCE YOU GET TO SEE SFC.

I forgot to mention it was Leeds fans that were galvanised!

Relegation and administration galvanised their supporters and I believe they've had bigger crowds these last 2 years than their relegation year. Hopefully we'll see the same effect. Last week Leicester had their most attractive game of the season against Leeds and could have secured promotion, they pulled in 25,000 - 7,000 under capacity. There must have been 3-4000 Leeds fans making the 80-mile trip. I've no doubt had that been us in that position SMS wouldn't have been big enough that day. I agree, £250 for a ST and get the fans back.

Nah....look at the lobes man, look at the lobes!

So...were the fans right to boycott or wrong to boycott?

But if it's totally up-in-the-air which division 'all that' will be in, surely there's the stumbling block?

Strange. Why put kids/nurses/etc. next to away fans and subject them to, what's usually some ripe language and banter, when they could keep all away fans together on one tier and put their more innocent types out the way in the vacant lower tier? Tho' having been to Hillsboro' a number of times (including the '84 cup game - I'm sure it was fish thrown on the pitch, not a chicken!) I reckon some of those kids will be 'up for it'!

Bit of a 'camel hoof' going on in this pic... ...the Arabs are coming, the Arabs are coming!!!

Luggy? Thought it looked more like 'Biggins' at first glance! Tho' think it's John O'Sullivan - wasn't he something to do with the commercial goings-on?

Eh? We had that entire end for the play-offs, 4,500ish, they had half of that end (at best), 2000ish more like. Derby's crowds have held up as they hooked in their fans on season tickets, like Norwich did, on relegation - something we didn't do by sticking with Prem prices. Interesting to see how Pride Park fairs next season. Note to any new investors/owners, you MUST entice fans back with cheap ST deals next season regardless of division cos it's the only way to guarantee decent crowds down in these leagues.

Well It amazed me when I heard the crowd was under 24,000, I thought it looked 26k+. And I wonder how many walked away, the queues down Britannia Road just before 3pm meant many wouldn't have made kick-off. Many clubs in this division (and some in the Prem) would love to have our fanbase.

Someone mentioned before that they had tickets in Block 38 which is the Northam/Kingsland corner, I know 'cos they took my ST away in 2008 when they shut 'em! Maybe someone could get a statement on tickets from David Luker?

I'm sure Palace fans will enjoy singing "...yer goin' down with the Charlton..." as they could bite the dust today...while some of ours may be tempted with a little rendition of "...there's only one Nigel Pearson..." as Leicester get promoted at around 5:50...

Knowing our "financial plight" they'll likely to offer us an "initial" allocation, probably 1,500, hoping we wont want to risk a further outlay taking more and not selling them. Hopefully we'll take the lot.

They normally give away fans the lower tier of the Bridgford(?) Stand which holds about 4,700 - bet they offer us a lot less as it's likely to be a massive game (probably more so for them as we'll likely be down). The capacity is 30,000ish so guess they only need to offer 3,000?

Probably more about 'the club' from now on rather than 'the team'.