Wear ordinary specs thanks, under no illusions I know we are struggling and will continue if everyone pulls the plug, so until a rich sugar daddy comes along its the faithful who will carry on and support the RED ARMY.

Off-the-field, yes, it seems to be tenuous situation. Ultimately, the club should be criticised over the decision to base its moving model on the Hull and Warrington scenarios.

However, on-the-field, Salford have played some great stuff this year - among the best rugby I've ever seen from them. The under-20s have also done a great job. Compared to say 1999, when everything about the club was dog turd, it isn't a nadir for me... yet.

However, what ultimately raised spirits after 1999 was the promise of a new stadium that would make us self-sufficient (no doubt keeping Tarry in a job for 10+ years). Whatever happened afterwards, playoffs and relegations, was slightly offset by this light and the end of the tunnel. Now that has gone, what do we look forward to? Without new investment [iand[/i direction, next year could be really turgid on all fronts. Indeed, the club have got a big job in the off-season to persuade people to buy a season ticket/pass/whatever.

"Indeed, the club have got a big job in the off-season to persuade people to buy a season ticket/pass/whatever."

Good. If there has to be a renewed and also improved marketing strategy, we are moving forward.

Spot on, Chico. Spot. On.

We [ihave[/i played some good stuff this year, and I believe the coaches are doing a very good job with what is at their disposal. So the usual natural turnover of players at season's end does not overly concern me. We have replaced better players than Holdsworth, Gleeson, et al in recent years. Seventeen points and an 11th placed finish is disappointing after some decent early season form, but not a million miles away from where most would have predicted pre-season. And let's not lose sight of the fact that we were never in serious danger of being near the very bottom of the competition.

But on all other fronts this end of season feels very different. The 'Promised Land' is far from proving the utopia we were all hoping for over the last decade. Yes the U20s have done excellently well but they will be disbanded due to the change in the Junior set up next year. And so what exactly do we have to cling on to? Where is the good news going to come from?

Is it just my perception, or are we as a club, habitually awful towards the end of the season? Anyone got any stats (I'm looking at you KOTS)?

Even though we've finished above Widnes and London, I'm sure their supporters are feeling more positive right now because their teams didn't give up once the playoffs were out of sight (although I reckon Wakey were probably below us when we decided we weren't making the

Sadly you're correct, here are the last 8 games from the past 4 seasons

2012
W - 1
L - 7
For - 158
Against - 298
Pts -2

2011
W - 2
L - 6
For - 138
Against - 266
Pts - 4

2010
W - 3
L - 5
For - 133
Against - 299
Pts - 6

2009
W - 1
L - 7
For - 150
Against - 238
Pts - 2

Just 14 points out of a possible 64!!!!!

By anybody's standards, that is absolutely appaling!

I agree the attacking rugby I've see this year is on a par with when Gregory was in charge but then the defending has been as woeful at times as I have ever seen. For all the good work Sean Long has put in going forward I think one of our most needed bits of investment is someone to sort out the defense, there must be a coach in the lower leagues who is defensively astute who we could get on board. Don't think anyone would doubt that with a more robust defense there would have been a better points total this season.

I am it appears one of the few who doesn't dislike the new stadium, OK I fully agree that it is soulless compared to the Willows but don't forget the Willows had a century + to develop that soul and character. I have no doubt that in years to come Barton will develop one in the same manner. I think the area and experience will improve when the other projects around the site are completed and think that Sale playing there will speed things up and hopefully with a year round market prompt a decent sized chain to open something nearby giving everyone a pre game focal point.

I'm not one who believes the scare mongering on here and I will only except tales of how close we are to going under when this is confirmed, I personally think there are to many people with a vested interest in the club to allow this to happen. Is money tight hell yes but it is for most people and certainly only the chosen few sports teams in the UK have escaped a double dip recession without feeling the pinch. Are we still trading? YES are we playing in a bright shiny new stadium YES, have we got a bunch of extremely talented kids on the books YES - all reasons for optimism for me.

But the fall off in the second half of the season is inevitable if you don't have the resources to put together a squad big enough, and with ALL the players good enough, to cope with the inevitable injuries.

There lie some sorry stats. So the last eight games from the last four seasons reads.

played 32
won 7
lost 25
for 579
against 1101
points 14
+/- -522

Winning less than a quarter of the games played, more worrying is this season is no differnt to the Mcrea era.

Well, the season's over. Despite the all the negativitiy from myself and others, our finishing position was actually better than I expected. Before a ball was kicked, I confidently predicted a season long battle for the wooden spoon with Widnes.

However, as others have previously stated, it is clear that we have a lot less to look forward to than every other club in SL. What are the chances of making the signings we need to significantly improve for next season? Virtually nil I would suspect.

Good riddance to Patten and his mate, but Moon will be a big loss, Smith and Gleeson were average SL players but sorry to see that Adamson's potential will never be realised with us.

In Matt we trust! Was there ever a bigger let down? (Apart from the last season / game at the Willows). We're left with a rented stadium with a dominant partner from the land of Kick and Clap, the usual far off promises from JW and the Board, constant rumours of administration and lack of potential investors.

Happy off season folks...................................!

Vievers wanted another coach at the start of the season along with long,and was told he would not get one.