No time for goodbyes

It was reported yesterday Monday 30th April 2012, via the official site that Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler wanted to finish on a high, talking ahead of the Morecambe game on Saturday... click here.

The question I would ask is why?

We have had 45 games this season in this his second season tenure and a second season of anything but failure. Does it really matter whether we finish eighth, ninth, tenth or even lower in the league, failure is failure, regardless of our finishing position now, is there any extra reward or financial benefit by achieving that higher position or that pride in winning the last game?

Why delay the inevitable any longer, the time to prepare after failure is now, not in another week, not after our summer holidays but immediately. This is the chance to allow the young players to get more first team experience on the Priestfield turf; this is the time maybe to leave out the players you do not want. We have no time for the typically British politeness of goodbyes, thank you or lap of honours; I will leave that to the GFC Gems. Having purchased my season ticket for a third season in league two, I want to see a tougher manager one that does not just have the passion in his heart but one that also has fire in his belly and shows it passionately in his selections and team tactics.

Do I care one bit on Saturday if win or lose, not at all, this is the time to test the way forward, not the time to appease the boo boys or critics, not the time to save pride or finish on a high. I want to see how we are going to be moving forward, not to have to reflect on the same show that I have been watching all season.

I will be there on Saturday against Morecambe, I am not coming to boo or jeer, I am not coming to reflect on the season but I do want to see a start in putting those words into action, finding the right words for the media is easy. Building a successful team is something completely different.

Football is far too expensive these days to embark on a thank you for nothing, I will be leaving at the final whistle and all I am interested in for the 90 minutes of the game is being given a glimpse of something to look forward to for next season. I have no expectations as a supporter of a lower league club. However, expectation is born by manager and chairman comments. I expected no financial outlay on players this season, I was not even expecting to be pushing for promotion, and those hopes were built up by the same people that may now deem us as their critics.

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