Reading this morning's profile of Division 1 in 'The Times' has set me thinking about the future. In it PNE are assessed as having a quality squad but low on confidence. The overall verdict is a focus on an immediate return to the Championship and a likely finish of 5th. Taking in all that has happened over the last few days plus the doubts being expressed in the Evening Post by leading players leads to the conclusion that all the above is nonsense. So what is an alternative assessment: 1. We have an owner more focussed on retrieving his money than moving forward. Contrast the interest he is charging for any loans to the club with that of the owner of Brighton who lent the club a large sum interest free to build the new ground. 2. We have a Chairman who says one thing then does another, all the while making fatuous statements. 3. We have a management who believe that selling any player with talent makes good business, particularly if they are not replaced. 4. We have a manager who is continuously undermined by said management. Given promises that are then broken at a whim. 5. We have senior players now openly questioning this policy. 6. We have a team that cannot defend, particularly in the first minute of a game, and that appears to be mainly composed of boys. 7. A loyal band of fans but not enough of them (Brighton for example have sold about 18000 season tickets. Finally an organisation that with 5 days to go before the opening game has still to send out passes for the car park (apparently these have yet to be printed). All pulling in the same direction - I don't think so. So what is my prediction: 1. A finish of around 19th with luck. Without luck another battle at the bottom. 2. PB will be so hacked off with the management and other problems that he will grab the first lifeline and move on to the first job available. Give it till January.
tommyt......you beat me to it posting this article of yours.. I would agree 100% with all points you make and certainly can't add any positive alternatives that could be debated seriously. As I have posted on another thread yesterday, once I had read what ML had to say in the LEP about Treacy moving on and how PNE were close to bankruptcy. It was very obvious that there would be a massive hue and cry from the majority of supporters, and so it has turned out as can be clearly seen in today's LEP. Now that Hume has given his response to the unnecessary transfer of Treacy to Burnley there can be no argument that there is serious trouble within the playing and managerial staff at Deepdale. Supporters can and have accepted that the high earners had to be moved on, but it is but a short time ago that the chairman stated that Treacy did not fall within that group and he would be a valuable asset in PNE's fight to get promotion. It is also common knowledge that Mat Hill was coming to Deepdale to fill the vacant left back position that has caused so many problems for such a long time, MH was coming until the chairman stuck his oar in and blocked the signing. PNE to date still do not have a recognised left back. PNE now need a replacement for Treacy as well which might be filled by Daley if deemed good enough by PB and the chairman sanctions his signing etc. There have been (and still are) several trialists who are making the numbers up as demonstrated in the team selection against Wigan. But assuming PB wants to sign a couple of them will the chairman sanction the signings. It could be that PB wanted to sign one or two of the trialist that have now left Deepdale because ML refused to allow this to happen. The Supporters have been told lies and are understandably furious about it especially those that have bought their season tickets like I have. With less than a week to go before the season starts PNE do not have a team they could put out that would give then a chance of promotion, in fact fans are now worried about the team and club moving in the opposite direction. There are still question marks about will Mellor/Barton and now Hume be staying and importantly will Phil Brown be staying. The goal posts have been moved again by TH/ML and the club is in a mess, the timing of the Treacy move and and the chairman's comments in the LEP could not have been timed worse no matter how hard he tried. Very very difficult to find anything positive to say at the moments.
Yes that is true themaclad, but only to an extent. What would the position be now if last season we had taken the 10 point hit and gone into administration. With the debt got rid of might the administrator have found someone to come in and refloat the club. TH would have lost out but any sympathy I had for him has long since gone. He browbeat shareholders to obtain control and since then has seemingly used the club for his own ends. Particularly in relation to interest on any loans where the rate he earns is wildly in excess of any that could be obtained on the market. Now all this might well be unfair. But until he, and his sidekick ML come out with a positive statement of their future plans for the club then conjecture is all that we are left with.
Well we are certainly in the mire now maclad and TH is the man at the top. It is his club and it was he who sanctioned all the loans, with a healthy interest rate to cushion the blow I might add. He could have prevented relegation had he wanted to by backing the manager by making relatively small cash amounts available. Then we wouldn't have lost the £4.5 million from not being in the championship. Lies/untruths have been told to not only PNE supporters but also it would seem to the players "Hume" for example and probably PB etc. Of course that is just my opinion..
Lots of negative comments re ML and TH, however unless anyone on here actually with accuracy knows the extent of the clubs financial position we can only go on what ML says. We have all said things, hoping they may be correct, knowing full well the may not be. The club is, and has been in the mire...it still is and it seems to me if it were not for TH we would have gone .....dead. Maybe we will have to suffer a few seasons in Div 1 and build slowly once more. I bought my season ticket weeks ago and remain positive about this season and think a top ten finish is possible. Lets hope things now calm and we start well on Saturday. + give Mellor the ball in the area and he will score! UTW
Love your optimism markos and you make good points, but most supporters did go on what ML said "Treacy is not a high earner and is a talented player who we have no intention of getting rid of" or words to that effect. That was a lie to not only the supporters but certainly to HUME who has indicated so in today's LEP. I suspect that PB was told the same. Of course ML is only doing what TH has told him to do. But I do agree it's all about opinion..
ML's apparent blocking of the Matt Hill transfer looks like coming home to roost. Comments in the Post indicate that PB is desperate for a left back but cannot find one.
"support the Pool a real club sea sea seasider" ????? I think not Calatron like your good self who supports Rangers I know a proper football club when I see one and chose to support the club "PNE" that has always cast it's shadow over that ale house club at the dirty end of the M55.
I'm with Markos on this, I'm fairly positive about next season, looking forward to Saturday, remember for the past few seasons we have been spending 35% over our income on wages chasing the pot of gold at the end of the Rainbow. People may not like what is going on at the momemt but it's better than having no club to support. Short term pain long term gain
I am like your self looking forward to Saturday maclad, always have done since 1946. A very old and well used football saying says it all "there is always next season", well for Northenders it will have been said by thousands at the end of last seasons disaster so get ready to rumble.. Without becoming embroiled in a no win debate, I have to ask WHO sanctioned spending over 35% above our income on wages. Yes the person responsible is the same person who now owns the club which he has bought for approximately £160.000 (after ripping off all the fans who bought shares). The same person who brought his mate's son in as manager and who was responsible for PNE's last season relegation. The same person who brought another of his mate's in as chairman who has told untruths to not only all the supporters but also to the playing management. PNE fans are well able to cope with the dire financial state of the club, but will not accept being treated like idiots and told lies by a puppet on a string. That is what people dont like and will not accept...
So, it is either TH & ML are liars & shafting our beloved PNE & PB is an angry, frustrated man...or TH & ML are the saviours of PNE & PB is excited at the thought of resurrecting a floundering club? (What is it with all these initials?) Personally, I am befuddled by what is happening: I cannot see the sense of TH, a PNE supporter though he be, buying a debt ridden club & then fleecing it with high interest rates. Am I alone in this befuddlement? But maybe this is the world of finance today. How about these crazy suggestions? Firstly, re-lay the pitch with a non-organic surface? It would allow Deepdale to be used for all sorts of sports bringing in extra finance: cricket, Yanky football, baseball etc. Imagine Preston Alligators taking on New York Yankees! Second, why not register NE Second XI with the League of Wales? Expectedly NE's young 'uns would get plenty of games including in Europe! (Well! Got to think of something to save the old girl!)
Sorry about the use of initials Barnet, it's just me being idle I am afraid.. Relay the pitch ????? how dare you suggest such an evil thing, Deepdale is the oldest professional playing area in the WORLD... Most of our young players are either in the first team or being used as substitutes so players are a bit thin on the ground at PNE now, so doubt we could tun out a second team of PNE players in any league.. Nobody knows what the situation is behind Deepdale's closed doors and have to guess which does make life interesting..
