Ron Martin with the Hail Mary…

After Saturday’s dismal display away to Hartlepool (O-Fucking-Donovan indeed), once the initial murderous thoughts had subsided, A calmness washed over me as I realised that things couldn’t possibly get much worse. What could possibly happen that could cast more doubt over the perillous situation we find ourselves in?

Sack the assistant, that’s what.

Paul Brush was dismissed from his position as Tilson’s assistant this morning as the club look to remove the negativity from the camp for the upcoming struggle against relegation. Brush, alongside Tilson, has been at the centrefold of our success. He’s the bad cop to Tilson’s good cop and is frequently seen as the voice on the touchline while Tilson likes to play a more reserved character. The exact reasons for his dismissal haven’t exactly been revealed, nor do I expect them to, but it’s a move that will go one of two ways. Success, or ultimate failure.

A statement from the club claims that, while Brush’s efforts are welcomed and appreciated, something has to be done to “stop the rot” and while Tilson has qualities that the chairman wishes to keep hold of, Brush does not.  Tilson will, undoubtedly, be dismayed to lose his right hand man and I suspect it’s only the love for this club that will keep him in the hot seat, rather than salvaging his reputation and walking away.

The move has rightfully infuriated sections of the support and demonstrations are in the midst, targetting Saturday’s crunch game against relegation bound Exeter. Demonstrating is a dangerous game to play, as it will only cast more doubt over a club facing impending doom and by grouping such a large number of disgruntled fans in one place, it’s a situation that is begging  to be made worse.

Even by flirting with administration and the state of the playing squad this season, I’ve thought that the chairman, Ron Martin, has perhaps recieved a degree of unfair criticism. He’s fell victim the credit crunch and has not been helped by a number of disastrous signings. All that said and done, he’ll have a hard job convincing me that this is a move forward or even the only option available.

In American Football terms, this is a Hail Mary play. A desperate attempt at the last to give the side the impetus to push forward and away from the relegation zone. I just hope it works, because it’s my club that’ll suffer if it doesn’t.