State of the Nation

Quote: BP1 "Even if we discount the years 2018-20, which at best were average, the last four seasons (we can already include 2024 in this as it's clearly not going to get any better anytime soon) rank amongst the worse we have witnessed over the past 50 years.

We haven't been this low for this length of time since the first half of the 1970s, a period generally agreed to have been the lowest we have fallen throughout our entire history. Since 1975 we have had the odd one or two season spells which were a difficult watch, but we usually then recovered to some extent, even if it was only back up to mid-table respectability.

After nigh on 15 years in the wilderness, going nowhere, the club was resuscitated in 1975 when the 'Waudby' board took over and kick-started the club back into life, instigating one of our great periods, giving fans of my generation memories to last a lifetime with heroes to cherish for always.

It's going to take something along similar lines to kickstart us once more, such is the depth of regression that has taken place since 2017, but I have severe doubts that there is a collective out there with the desire and financial capacity to revive our club. A collective with a long-standing affinity with the club and the money to turn this situation around.

As I said earlier, we haven't been this weak for this length of time in a half-century. I'm usually optimistic that even when it's not quite going our way, we will turn the corner at some point and, at the very least, be competitive to the top sides once again, but right now I have genuine fears that we are the next Bradford/Widnes, clubs with glorious pasts which become more faded with each passing year.

I have never felt this low about supporting my club in the 50 years I have been a black & white. The years under Len Casey (86-8icon_cool.gif and David Lloyd (98-99) now feel like mere light-hearted bumps in the road compared to the seemingly ever quickening downward spiral we now find ourselves in.

This has gone way beyond over-heated reactions to yet another catastrophic performance, it increasingly feels like we are in a fight for our very existence. We have being going backwards for seven years now, we are still going backwards today and, unless some drastic changes are made, we will continue going backwards until we fall into the abyss.

Now, if you will excuse me, I'm off to pour myself a goblet of hemlock and cyanide!!'"

Just have half a bottle whisky and a jam sandwich, tomorrow, it would be a lot less messy and if it makes you spew, a lot easier to clean up IAKOW.