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"Hello all,
I am a former player of this wonderful club but for publicity
reasons and what I am about to say, I am with holding my ident.
Anybody who has ever played at Ilkeston will tell you that there
is a certain something about the club, a kind of magic that few
clubs have. A heart and soul.
I am sad to say........Its gone.
Ilkeston
used to be a super place to play your football. The fans were
supportive (most of the time) and they gave you a slating if you
deserved it. They were by far some of the loudest supporters in
the DML and had some excellent songs, One man and his super sonic, sausage
dog and and all that. They were loyal.
Now there deathly quiet unless 4-0 up and whenever I have been
back its 90% been moan, moan, moan.
The
structure was good and with it being a "family" based
club there was a sense of loyalty throughout which you rarely
see now a days, its all back stabbing execs against the world.
Okay the Mr Millership's money backing may have gone, but the
club is, as far as we know, in the black, which is good.....if
your in the Premiership.
Without wishing to sound like a footballing God. (which I can
assure you I a not), I would like to point out a few things.
Managers...Phil
Stant is a top draw, non-league manager and I have heard many a
few player and manager over the last few months wanting to know
how Ilkeston managed to get him!
But the truth is, you cant hide the fact that at the first sign
of trouble the manager goes. WRONG.
John
McGinlay...Given time would have been another Alexander. Don't
be surprised to see him in charge of a league club and do well
in the future. Admittedly he tried to change a squad too fast
and brought in too many players with different styles but hey, that's
management.
Finances.....Even
the most un businessed minds can work this one out. The club is
solvent. Great.
but would you rather be solvent, be in the NCE and get 100
people a match OR in the Conference Div1 owing £25,000 to the
bank, but dragging in 1500 a match to pay it off...Hey, even
conference matches get Sky TVs precious money.
Yes it needs a backer to provide the money but what would you
pay an extra £20 on your season ticket or £2 on your entry fee
to get there?
The simple answer is no. I've heard people moaning about the
price they paid for their tickets and the price of the beer in
the clubhouse etc and while the supporters have this attitude,
the club will stay in the doldrums.
Another major problem with Ilkeston is its location. Not enough
of the town go to the matches and it is slap bang in the middle
of Derby and Nottingham, thus has 3 teams to compete with and
chances are every week of the season either Forest, County or
Derby are going to be at home.
Burton on the other hand doesn't. Its a good trek to Derby on a Saturday
afternoon from Burton, Leicester isn't far off, but still too
far, the only other options are Birmingham/Staffordshire
teams......Still too far.
Ilkeston
Town is a super club and I would hate to see it disappear up its
own arse, but if the way things carry on the way the are its
going to.
I
agree with Mats comments and there are far too many loose ends
at the club that need to be tied up.
Ideas are needed.
Why don't the supporters buy the club or at least a percentage? That's
a start, then you cant blame the running of the club TOTALLY on
someone else?
Devise a PROPER supporters club, not the "your my mate so
you can come in, oooh we don't know you so you cant" kind
of thing, a proper scheme with real organization. One thing new
supporters notice about the club is how "clicky" it is
and how and it does put people off.
These
are just a few comments and things I have noticed in the past
24-30 months.
Lets
not let it fall apart, lets get our arses into gear and do
something about it rather than moaning and expecting someone to
do it for us.
KEEP
POSTING, KEEP SUPPORTING AND KEEP PAYING!!!!!!"
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