I guess that's the best that could be expected. 6 weekends unavailable for pitch maintenance. That is the same as planned last year. The Friday match in May has moved to Saturday. Two home matches then planned for the first two Sunday's in July as per last season, but both of those got moved to Ebbsfleet. You'd hope AFC Wimbledon have given assurances this time the pitch will be available.

Last year was the first full season for the pitch and I think the biggest issue was the lack of light on the pitch in the winter months due to the high West Stand and the high flats behind the South Stand. They have portable lighting rig, although I understand they really need another one. Lessons should have been learnt and I think if either of those July fixtures get moved, it what be reasonable that there was a penalty clause against the football club.

Last season the pitch was unavailable for any use for 8 weekends. The 6 unavailable weekends this year should not be allowed to increase.

The fixtures have probably been set-up as well as possible considering the (home) season has been split into two. Only five home matches in the February through June period. Then eight in July, August, September.

After the really poor start on the pitch last year which really didn't help attendances, this does give the club the space to have the team competitive by July (although if it were a mess in the previous five months it doesn't help particularly). Needs to be tuning rather than what happened last year. Does give the opportunity to get locals attending regularly in three of the better months of the year. The target does need to be primarily locals rather than AFC Wimbledon supporters. The percentage of those supporters living close enough to make the effort appears to be surprisingly small.

I’m no expert but I think they will be decent next year without being devastating. I don’t think they impressed in the way we did when we were in SL and so haven't been picked to the bone as were but have lost a few and appear weaker although they are likely to win the league. I suspect they will hand out a punishment beating to us but not of the type we received in 2021. My gut feeling was Gahan was competent but as he picked up a knock quite quickly difficult to say whether he’s a world beater. It feels like quite a good move for him and not the end of the world for us although I think his replacement is the ex Skolars chap so that’s a bit of a gamble. I’m going to give the match a swerve but I agree whilst the Leigh game was a bit grim the Whitehaven game and indeed the witless performances against Widnes, first half in particular and Newcastle, whole game, were infinitely worse and did more damage to the club and its goals. I also think the outcomes in the Widnes and Whitehaven games should have been prdictable to those running the clubs who should have an idea of the level, which makes them all the more shameful and indicative of a chaotic approach to the ‘relaunch’. This season we seem to have grasped that retention of key players is important t and losing them for relatively small amounts of money is a false economy but our recruitment policy looks as thin as ever. My gut is Stock fell into our lap rather than any recruitment nouse on our part, although I may be wrong. I think he has a job that is not Northern centric and comes from south of the Trent so doesn’t get a nose bleed every time he joins the M1.

What's the M1, BT? Thought you people had railway stations!

As long as you haven't signed Vecna from "The Upside Down" - powerful lad but has a terrible disciplinary record.

The pre season match with the Skolars is back after a 3 year hiatus and will be played at the HAC. The last few times we've played them we have put out an inexperienced team, hope to see more first teamers this time.

Does anyone remember the last time we played them at the HAC? I know we tested that relationship with them and pulled out of a game and they started playing Wigan's youngsters instead but something tells me it's been nearly 10 years since we were last there.