Lockie Lam

Quote: The Dentist Wilf "Well that's it I guess having watched that, we are pretty much at rock bottom now, although that may yet come on Saturday, with a somewhat resurgent London eying another two points but the one big hope (that in truth and all logic we were never ever going to pull off I mean would you come and play for us if you were that talented?) hasn't happened but as always in those situations its the hope that has killed you, but we are, despite a few scatter. gun signings and some outstanding youth, really in a hole and for this fan the end of the season can't come quickly enough. Years of under investment and replacing class with also rans season on season has come home to roost. The saddest thing of all is that you don't have to look far in this City to see what can be done with incremental year on year improvement and a bit of investment at the right time. We are all still behind our club for where else can you go but its all pretty heartbreaking at present and we really do need a lift.'"

To say this season has been a long haul is an understatement! Reckon it's down there with 1991/92 and 1999 as the worst I have seen in my time supporting the club (with 86/87 and 94/95 not far behind). Like you say, unfortunately this is a result of the past 5-6 years of the club steadily drifting backwards each successive year, a combination of lack of investment and poor decision making by various personnel.

The climb-back has to start now, we simply cannot afford to go any further back from our present position, although I do worry that Saturday afternoon may see another embarrassment come our way. One more step back and we are over the cliff edge to oblivion.

I think what's needed, even more than substantial investment, is brains at the club. We need people who are capable of making the right decisions in the key areas which are fundamental to any successful business. People who make the right choices at the right time leading to improvements and hence success. Think it goes without saying that those type of people have conspicuous by their absence in recent years at Fc.

Whilst monetary investment is obviously needed for any sporting club, it is not necessarily the only answer to the problem. As an example, Manchester United have money beyond most club's reach, but they have under-achieved for more than a decade, primarily due to spending their untold millions very badly whilst becoming a rather badly run sporting organization, so simply throwing money at an issue is not always the solution.

The key people for us, as we attempt to change direction, are Myler and Cartwright. They are the people who have to make the right decisions in the key areas in order to get this club moving in the right direction once more. Signing Lachlan Lam, whilst a welcome boost to fan optimism, would not have solved our problems on its own, our problems go way too deep for a single signing to alter that completely.

The brains trust at the club has to be smarter and more decisive than it has been since 2017. They have to make the right calls at the right time concerning the right people. If they don't, we will be having this same conversation in twelve months time. We cannot afford to repeat past mistakes for much longer. Those in charge of the club's affairs have to start getting it right, and they have to start that process right now, or we are doomed.