This could end here; because who knows? Not the now ex-manager/coach, the players, or the board it would appear. And most certainly not us, the fans. This season had been one of our better in the post-SLP years on the pitch (until the last few weeks), but one of apparent chaos behind the scenes. Perhaps the surprising thing is that it actually held together for so long until the adjacent exits from all three cups in Black February and the ending of any serious title hopes with the Nuneaton and Northwich games.

The fact that six months later the fall-out from the parting of the ways with Colin Lippiatt still rumbles on in fans' conversations is a good indication of how badly that was handled. The inconsistent and confusing explanations that came out of the club left suspicions that all was not right. The long delay with the appointment of Steve Thompson appeared pointless. If he was going to get the job anyway, and no serious effort seems to have been made to pursue any alternatives, what was the benefit of a period of uncertainty? Contradictory statements from the top followed thick and fast: we didn't need any new players; then we did; the budget was over limit and players would have to leave if new ones were to be brought in; Thommo had money to spend. We pursued a number of big name (in Conference terms) forwards and mid-fielders through December and January to no apparent effect. What we actually secured was a DML wing-back in February.

And then there was the Director of Football (a.k.a. the Technical Director in some announcements from the club). This position had been talked about for months but it was certainly not clear how that idea was developing when the new coach was full-time. Eventually David Webb was unveiled. Thommo heard about it through the media by all accounts! Major role; seat on the board etc. Er, run that past us again: unofficial consultancy capacity. Er, run that past us again: nothing he could see that needed to be done; he was off. Er, run that past us again: could be around in some sort of consultancy capacity after all. Er, run that past us again: a Director of Football is still needed and a number of names were being considered. Er, run that past us again: "...... the club will definitely be using him [Webb} again on a consultancy basis." (Fry's Clarion interview 07/03/00). Er, run that past us again: out of the blue as far as the rest of the world was concerned David Webb is appointed as manager. Confused? ........ you should be!

Meanwhile with John Fry rowing with fans and threatening bans for the voicing of opinions, tales of unrest in the dressing room, and the season in a terminal tail-spin suspicion has turned to open distrust for many. Don't place too much money on Steve Thompson not having found out that his job description had been radically re-written from the media again. His position must seem to many as untenable. This is the man who was persuaded to give up his job for a two year contract just a few short months ago. Only three days before the new manager was appointed Fry was asked in the Clarion if Thommo's job was in any danger if Yeovil didn't go up this year. "None whatsoever" said Fry. Votes of confidence from Chairmen may have become a standing joke, but how can Steve Thompson or anyone else in the club's employ trust a word Fry says again? Either he was being economical with the truth, or he's no longer in charge and what he says carries no weight.

And what of the new manager? A chequered career one might say. During that first aborted appointment a lot of information surfaced from a large number of people who remembered him at three previous clubs. Not one spoke of him favourably, and the majority clearly loathed him with a vengeance. His mentor Norman Hayward is not well loved by Cherries fans either, and his role at the time that Bournemouth came within a whisker of going under makes interesting reading starting here. A Hayward-Webb axis at the helm of our club, if that is what indeed came into being on Friday March 10, should be filling us all with trepidation in my opinion.

HHH.