The performance and result against Stockton had been bad enough but today was far worse. I had been disappointed at the way a loyal servant of the club had felt that she could no longer give to the club any more. We were on the lookout for a Commercial Manager...and are still looking! Since the vase victory days one volunteer after another has left the club. Such a drain from the club is probably why we are in the position we are in now.
Not one manager has finished a season he has started since Ian Chandler left after winning three Fa Vase finals in a row. This club is in a downward spiral and manager after manager has been used as a scapegoat.
When Andy Gowen was appointed, it was almost as if he was doing the Bay a favour being here but where were all the applicants lining up to take the job of manager of one of the North-East's most famous non-league clubs?
Ian Chandler's Bishop Auckland are now second in the Northern League while other Bay reject Marc Nash's Shields are fourth. We, on the other hand, are third bottom. Only the fact that there aren't enough teams in the league will mean we are probably going to avoid relegation. We are four points above second bottom Whickham and they have two games in hand!
The players on the pitch have worked tirelessly but there needs to be a new approach from on high. Is McIlduff aware how bad the club has become? Rumours are, he missed out on Saturday's marvellously entertaining show because he was in Cardiff watching the rugby.
It is time for him to go to let in someone new. Not for having a weekend off but letting the club sink to the depths we are in now! Half of the ground should be condemned: plastic sheeting to waterproof part of the 'hospitality lounge' and a metal pole holding up the roof of the DJ hut are an absolute disgrace... not to mention the pathetic size of the Vase legacy stand! Where is the camera that the stand was supposed to have on its gantry? No comment!
I may not know the whole financial picture but that is because we are never told it. Surely shareholders are given details of the financial situation, yet everything is shrouded in mystery. As a result, the Bay stumbles ever lower. If there is, as rumoured, a £750,000 debt then that needs to come out and, if necessary, the club declared bankrupt and start again with people committed to building a sustainable club. Look at what has been achieved at Consett!
On the pitch, the teams have sunk down the leagues year on year. Only Nash's team that finished so strongly and gave us hope bucked the trend. Yet the supporters still turn up in big numbers, buy season tickets, buy merchandise, use the burger van and cheer the team across the Northern League. There is no communication with the fans, Twitter comments from loyal servant Julian are the only source of club information. Where are the fans forums with members of the board? Managers down the years have shown honesty and bravery coming to meet with their public but have we seen hide no hair of our illustrious chairman? Not even an apology after poor performances. We now look up to the likes of Stockton, Shields, Hebburn, Sunderland RCA: clubs that would love to have the same fanbase as ourselves. We used to be on a par with Dunston, West Auckland, Consett... How the mighty have fallen.
I, and many others, no longer enjoy watching Whitley games. I bought a season ticket as usual but this year put on the proviso that if things didn't improve then I would not be renewing. The only enjoyment many get is from the comaradery from other supporters. It can only be a matter of time before they cut out the unneccessary defeat and meet elsewhere.
Now Mick Mulhern has been given the old heave-ho. I feel sorry for him, he has just become another scapegoat for the club's failings off the pitch!
This has been a hard blog to write but has been a long time in the making. I only hope it manages to change something at the Bay: something needs to, for the sake of the club!
Oh, by the way... that was Hebburn's first win in eight games. Farcical!
