Doing the right thing ...

[neilw]

Given that our season will be mathematically over on Saturday night and the current situation is not sustainable, especially financially, IL has no option but to make changes.

In order to dispel the current angst, and act with integrity, it would be wholly appropriate to announce, on Tues / Weds, that Wilder will finish at the end of the season. This leaves the final home game to show appreciation for his efforts and commitment, allowing him to leave with pride intact. It gives closure to an era and an opportunity to look ahead.Doing nothing before the final home game fuels the current ill feeling and toxic atmosphere. You can’t finish a season on that note, especially when it’s not necessary and season ticket sales are to be had.

As regards next season, we start in a similar position to when we first moved from the Manor. No fundamental change or progress. However, it’s cost us £6m|| in order to stand still. It’s really not a good situation is it?

[Dartford Ox]

Given that our season will be mathematically over on Saturday night and the current situation is not sustainable, especially financially, IL has no option but to make changes.

In order to dispel the current angst, and act with integrity, it would be wholly appropriate to announce, on Tues / Weds, that Wilder will finish at the end of the season. This leaves the final home game to show appreciation for his efforts and commitment, allowing him to leave with pride intact. It gives closure to an era and an opportunity to look ahead.Doing nothing before the final home game fuels the current ill feeling and toxic atmosphere. You can’t finish a season on that note, especially when it’s not necessary and season ticket sales are to be had.

As regards next season, we start in a similar position to when we first moved from the Manor. No fundamental change or progress. However, it’s cost us £6m|| in order to stand still. It’s really not a good situation is it?

I beg to differ. It has cost Mr Lenagan - not you and me.

[SmileyMan]

Sorry to be a pedant, but the season might not be mathematically over on Saturday. There's still a microscopically slim chance we can make the playoffs, providing the results between Bradford/Exeter/Chesterfield end up with them all on 64 points, and we win every game to reach 65.

The chances would be described as 'thin' by a Rizla though

To be exact, any of the following results on Saturday will deny us a playoff place:

Bradford-Chesterfield: Chesterfield don't win
Wimbledon-Exeter: Exeter don't lose
Dagenham-Oxford: Oxford don't win

Ideally Fleetwood and Rochdale will both lose, and Southend will draw with Bristol, but those aren't essential.

[dr ceri]

That's a very good post Neil re: Wilder. If I was Lenagan I'd sit CW down and say your contract is being terminated and you'll get whatever penalty clauses due to you, but if you want us to announce it as being your decision to resign rather than being sacked, then fine. He can then go out as you say with his head held high, then that can only be a good thing for all parties.

is everyone in football too stubborn to do anything like that though?

[SmileyMan]

The chances would be described as 'thin' by a Rizla though

Taking the bookies odds as a guide:

Bradford-Chesterfield: Chesterfield don't win: 4 - 7 = 63%
Wimbledon-Exeter: Exeter don't lose: 5 - 9 = 64%
Dagenham-Oxford: Oxford don't win: 8 - 15 = 65%

That makes the combined odds about 97%, so it's pretty much a 33-1 shot. On the upside, the National winner was 66-1......

PS - no, I don't have anything better to do!

PPS - I'm quite tempted to put a tenner on the Chesterfield, Wimbledon, Oxford accumulator!

[Ancient Colin]

OK, so:

Exeter lose to Chesterfield and Cheltenham leaving them on 64 points
Bradford lose to Rotherham, Burton and Gillingham with an aggregate goal difference of -10 leaving them on 65 points (||2)
Chesterfield lose to Plymouth and Fleetwood but beat Exeter 64 points
Fleetwood beat Chesterfield but lose to or draw with Wimbledon, 63 or 64 points
and the simple one: Oxford beat Rochdale and Accrington with an aggregate goal difference of ||10 (5-0 and 5-0 will do), 65 points (||3)
Southend and Wycombe aren't allowed to go mad ...

so technically, we are not yet out of the playoffs?!

[ty cobb]

Our drop off recently is so frustrating we should have won the two games prior to daggers had we have done so we'd be level on points with the last team in the play offs. It really was up for grabs and we have stuffed it up.