The James Ramsden Column

Friday 08 March, 2002

Geoffrey has spoken

It has taken him a while to comment about our performance on the pitch, but has he left it too late. The problem is that so many fans have turned against Geoffrey Richmond, whatever he says will be thrown back in his face.

Richmond has criticised overpaid players putting in poor performances - something us lowly fans have been moaning about since the first part of the season. However, most fans will point to Richmond and say that he stumped up the cash and agreed contracts for Ashley Ward and Benito Carbone in the first place - as well as appointing Hutch as manager.

Admittedly, he had a good clear out last season, with white elephants Hopkin, Petrescu and Clarke being shown the door- but he didn't re invest the cash. Richmond complains that he wants players to give their all as soon as they cross the line, but it must be hard to do that when you know that you are going to be sold at the end of the season, or you know that even if you are working your socks off- your team mate on the wing can't be bothered to string two passes together.

What he needs to do now is take the money that he said would be available if we were pushing for promotion, and give it to Law and tell him to use it to save us from relegation. A few young players who are willing to give their all would replace the passengers in the side, and work wonders for team morale and table placement.

I'm glad Richmond has spoken out, at least he has shown us that he is as frustrated as we are. To be honest, if we were in his position, we'd be hoping every week that Ward scores a hat trick - he's got to have faith in his investment. Stockport on Tuesday was probably the last straw, and I for one am glad that he's had the guts to blast the team. I just hope now that the players can show the same sort of guts and start performing on the pitch- otherwise its a local derby against the TB's next season.

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