Full Time Score from Cantilever Park:
Warrington Town 2 Witton Albion 0.
Sadly it wasn’t to be. Our premier league status is at an end.
Full Time Score: Basford United 0 Mickleover FC 1.
A good effort today and if the penalty goes in we go on and win that game, every player gave 100% as have the management team. Luck was not on our side in some games this season.
It’s a shame we couldn’t take it to the last game, but we didn’t get relegated because of losing here but our poor form over the season? Be very interesting to see what happens next at our club as we plan for next season. UTA
C.J., Interesting yes but the club should take a good long look at itself, yes mistakes have been made on the pitch but let’s be honest off the pitch the club has been chaotic all season.
Lack of training facilities has been a big factor and if you don’t think that’s the case ask any manager that comes to Witton. People keep saying use the back pitch but it’s soaking wet in winter and there have been times when groundstaff refused to turn the lights on or turned them off after an hour, stopping training & again if you don’t believe me ask the management or groundstaff.
If groundstaff says any different, then tell me your version of events when Moss Farm was lost due to circumstances beyond Carl/Gary’s fault. Nobody from the club made any effort to help find a training pitch it was all left down to the management who were also out 3 nights a week looking at better players.
Steve Conneely did his goals bonus fund raiser and did very well but when Steve decided he had had enough, nobody could be bothered taking over and so a lot of revenue went by the wayside. Yet there is supposedly a supporters committee who apart from 3 or 4 people don’t seem to do much with regards to helping the club.
Jo Heffey was meant to be easing her workload this season yet luckily, she is doing more now than before. Yes I say luckily because otherwise without Jo and Square the dressing rooms wouldn’t get cleaned & kit wouldn’t get washed, again no extra help.
Alan is doing a great job with regards to the youngsters but again he can’t do it all on his own.
Programmes, who sells them and where? Sometimes in the bar and sometimes not, sometimes near the turnstiles sometimes not visiting supporters laugh at the lack of organisation.
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help improve the club
Outside the ground looks great thanks to Julian and U LOCK IT
NOW onto the football side.
It’s clear that some people want a new manager but WHO is going to make that decision? Graham hasn’t got the knowledge of non league football and IF the club have any ambition to bounce back, the budget cannot be cut as it’s shoestring level now. Macclesfield, Workington, Leek, Marine, Warrington Rylands, Clitheroe & Runcorn Linnets will all have competitive budgets and ambitions of promotion .
It’s a very important 10 days for WITTON and I say 10 days because if Carl goes(a mistake if it happens), then a new manager needs to be in place by beginning of MAY to plan friendlies, sort his squad out, sort pre season training out.
In my humble opinion Carl & Gary deserve a chance to get Witton back up and I’m guessing that will be unpopular with certain “club officials or Volunteers” as you call yourselves.
Yes, the club does need to get its house in order and we will see if this new Chairman can do that. On the football front, I would guess about 90% of the fans (that’s who I chat too) want a change from Carl’s dour football style not just a few volunteers.
Re training, the lights issue is 100% wrong I spoke with the groundsman who turned the teaing lights off after the team moved onto the main pitch thinking they had finished. No way were told not to use them. Carl did not want to use the training pitch the Chairman did hence the clash.
Out looking 3 nights a week where were they looking! Really they could find a striker who can score more than 2 goals in a season.
Yes, it will be a risk for sure but applicants will come probably 40 or more (the budget might be small but the mgt is well paid). It will be upto the board to decide whether to run again with Carl, or look afresh at the club sadly many fans have now stopped watching during Carl’s tenure, where other clubs smaller than Witton have thrived attendance wise.
I know you are closer to the mgt than most but try to see it from a fans view, I personally think it is time to change and yes take a risk. It might be good for Carl also in the longer term.
We’ll see what this meeting brings next week I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s opinions and solutions but I suspect not many people will say much. They will just criticise in their own little groups. As for the lights, I was told by the players about the issues some of who travelled an hour or more for less than an hours training because of issues.
Clearly we’re not going to agree about things but I hope whoever is manager next season in he gets more help with regards to training facilities and the groundstaff communicate better with the management team because, it seems a case of the tail wagging the dog.
I’ve just read this on another club’s forum page, maybe worth thinking about for next season for some fans!
Fans expect to call out players week in and week out and not expect it to have a negative impact on their performance. It’s just relentless.
Yes, you could argue that’s what forums are for, surely constructive criticism yes.
I keep coming back to the point that we need to do something differently to break this cycle of struggle and decline. It’s OK to try and bolster morale with rallying calls and pleas for loyalty, doubling down and pressing hard pressed volunteers to do more - but it’s not working is it? Honestly? This isn’t about criticising players or styles of management, but giving whoever the incumbents are, the tools to do the job. To give them a chance of success, of building morale, of taking the club forwards to a place where just surviving isn’t the order of the day.
I can’t make next weeks meeting (which may not be a bad thing), but I do hope we begin at least a process of looking to see what is possible not just consolidating where we find ourselves next season.
Knutsfordian, I agree with all you say about giving people the tools to do the job but sometimes you’re fighting a losing battle. When the lights are turned off on the training pitch or not turned on at all and that’s just one example, be careful what you say because you’re not allowed to show signs of ambition, or you get shouted down by people who are “volunteers/club officials.”
I will be at the meeting and I will be asking questions about Witton’s ambitions for coming back up.
DW, why do you keep bringing the lights issue up it’s a complete red herring. I repeat the lights were turned off at the back because the team had moved onto the main pitch and the groundsman thought they had finished.
However, the team had intended to go back onto the rear pitch that’s the facts, no drama no cost - saving hissy fit! If they had wanted to continue they could have and I guarantee any manager will be able to train at the back with lights anytime they wish.
C.J., just ask the players or management tomorrow if there have been issues with groundstaff & lights, as you clearly think I make things up. It has happened more than once.
Pity ‘‘Knuts’’ can’t make the meeting, I would like to hear his ‘‘positive’’ spin on things & how we can improve our standing in Mid-Cheshire!
Maybe he could get some tips of his new best friend at 1874 (the biggest & best run club around) A.K.A. ‘‘the cuckoos.’’ For all the snipes at our groundsman, he is still the best in the land! Although UNPAID, you can always find him doing something down at the ground (probably 364 days per year!).
I called the other day & he had mopped all the changing rooms! If there is nothing to do, he will find something. He is a diamond, so all you keyboard warriors, please think before you post on here or elsewhere! U.T.A.
Flav - no one is sniping here and it’s not about positive spin or having new best friends. There is no doubt that we have some fantastic volunteers at WAFC, my contention is that is just not enough!
We (WAFC), are grinding people into the ground in trying to keep this club afloat - but it’s just not working!! What happens when Sprucie and Pete can’t do the ground anymore???
When Jo can’t do all that she does to keep the team well turned out and Square can’t do the kit!! We need a rethink about how we can keep football at this club (and generally in MId-Cheshire) alive - and this isn’t the answer in my view - and it is my view alone!
WE just need to rethink what we can do and stop being so defensive!!
Hanks (Knuts), YOU have still not offered any ounce of positivity towards a solution! I’m waiting!!!
Clearly what I have said here and on other threads has gone completely over your head !!
The club needs to be restructured from top to bottom. This is not to criticise those who work so hard for the club, but we have to find a way of bringing new investment into the club and to do that, we need to change the Articles of Memorandum to give the directors the powers they need to make this club a success.
Knutsfordian, I’m sorry but I think you’re wasting your breath, some people don’t want to see that the club needs investment they still seem to be suffering from a bad experience X amount of years ago.
The club cannot progress in its current format and I just hope the new chairman and committee are allowed to try and bring in new money but sadly, I think there will be opposition and then the club will struggle to progress.