HTML: Sheff Wed 15 -6 15 Barnsley 15 -8 15 Peterborough 15 -6 12 Bristol City 15 -7 11 Ipswich 15 -20 10 Bristol Rovers 15 -10 14 Wycombe 15 -13 14 Wimbledon 15 -10 13 Barnet 15 -12 13 Aldershot 15 -13 13 Can any Bristol football fan be proud of the current situation of our clubs? Let alone embarrassed!! Of course there will be a few who get a certain amount of satisfaction to see the âotherâ club in such a disasterous position. As a passionate fan of Bristol football, I am horrified at the state the clubs are in. Who do we blame? SL has put his money where his heart is and been rewarded with very little in return. Higgs and the Gas Board are on the brink of achieving a new stadium after years of negative reaction from Bristol City Council's Planning Department. On the playing side, both clubs have turned over several managers, numerous players and here we sit as shown in the tables above. At least this season neither of the present incumbents has had the neck to lay the blame of the teamsâ poor performances at the door of the loyal supporters. In most other businesses lack of achievement usually results in promotions upstairs, redundancy, sacking or resignations. Of course football is such an overpaid industry that no failing resident deserts his post voluntarily unless he is man of the highest morals. Those who are sacked seem to continue to draw down their inflated salaries when on 'gardening leave'. What other industry would do that?? Why on earth can the managements not write a releasing clause for failure into a contract? Rovers have been in consistent decline since the wise words of Lennie Lawrence departed. One must note that the Palace have risen from the relegation zone to top league since his arrival at the club. So perhaps a Director of Football would be the answer to both clubâs health. Each year we approach the new season full of false hope and optimism. Each year we are dragged lower and lower into the depths of gloom and despondency. After more years than I wish to remember of more false dawns than uplifting sunsets, I feel inclined to take the moral high ground and desert the sinking ships and resign from further involvement until some sort of magic combined with commonsense prevails. Sadly, it seems unlikely that the modernising changes which are clearly necessary to bring football in Bristol into the real world of the 21st Century are likely to happen my lifetime. Perhaps someone from a higher alter could please intervene and help us in our plight!!
