Cod Almighty | Diary

The men without a plan

25 April 2019

When Jamille Matt rose this time last year to head home and confirm we would be safe in the Football League, our opponents had a chance of promotion. Now our opponents from that game host us on Saturday hoping we will be as charitable as they were that day. Not to secure promotion but to give them a chance at safety, as we find ourselves in the position where we could relegate Notts County this weekend.

The abrupt change of fortune for the oldest professional Football League club is startling, as the other play-off contenders from 12 months ago all could be playing in the league above us next year. Losing their Football League status could also have severe implications financially, as the club owe the HMRC somewhere in the region of £200,000. Or even worse they could end up being taken over by current Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite.

The Conference is an alarming pit to be teetering over, as we well know. Accrington Chairman Andy Holt pointed out on Twitter following the win that makes them very likely in the third flight why this was so crucial: it isn't that there is that much more money washing around in the division above us; it is that staying up guarantees at least two years before they can fall into non-League, two years of income. And with that you can plan.

Observing our own plodding progress, East End Diary was confused by the word plan but apparently a plan is "an orderly or step-by-step conception or proposal for accomplishing an objective." I had to google it as I realised I can't remember any plan made by our own board beyond: 1) Move to new stadium; 2) ?; 3) Profit.

While other clubs release season ticket details, or even reduce prices to get fans buying early, we still await news on when our season tickets will be released. We are a reactive club in every way.

I find myself left with the very real impression that we only ever exist planning on how to survive until the end of the season. Rarely does it seem to move beyond that. What are we doing that is going to progress this club forwards? Saturday will remind us of why a millionaire promising to bank roll a club is a bad plan, leaving us at the mercy of the whims of the man with the money. But will we ever look to do something beyond seeing out a season?

Three years of League football have now been and gone, with a sad stagnation and a worrying visit to the precipice. All we have ahead of us is a summer where there is no World Cup to distract us. Instead of ending on a the high of survival, we have nothing to play for. I would much rather be in that position than chewing my fingernails, but do we have any plans to change that into something that will get us excited for the new season?