Kelly called up
Colchester triumph !!!!!!!!!!

Gary Kelly of Oldham has been called in to the Republic of Ireland squad to ease their goalkeeping crisis ahead of Wednesday's Euro 2000 play-off in Turkey. Republic manager Mick McCarthy was forced to act quickly after Alan Kelly sustained a groin injury in Saturday night's first leg match in Dublin, forcing him out of the reckoning for the Bursa rematch.  So Oldham's Kelly, a 33-year-old previously with Newcastle and Blackburn, will travel to Turkey to provide back-up for Charlton's Dean Kiely - the only other goalkeeper in the squad. The teams drew 1-1 in Dublin on Saturday night.

I've just seen your reply and would have loved to have spent more time constructing my response.  However, as I'm about to dash over to the game, the following will have to suffice. I can't pretend that I am not disappointed that you have chosen to label a radio interview that you haven't even heard yet as being "negative". Ironically, I find that assumption a tad negative in itself.

You say that, in contrast to myself you "have learned to channel my own energies into a more positive outlook".  I would like to think that the variety of activities that I have undertaken over the years such as setting up an Australasian Supporters Club, sponsoring player's kit, contributing to BTB over the years, setting up the largest Latics website on the Internet (in terms of sheer number of articles etc) - and I could expand much further than these examples - would be seen as channelling my energies in a positive way.   I am a devout Latics fan - like yourself - who wants the Club to move forward and have shown my willingness to do my bit to help that happen.  It might be useful if you could define 'negative' to qualify this criticism.

Amongst the supposedly 'negative' statements I made in the GMR interview are the following direct quotes (not hearsay).

- "I want to make it clear from the start that David Brierley is a genuine supporter of the Club and we are pleased to have a genuine supporter finally
at the helm as opposed to J W Lees"
- "We are not anti-David Brierley in any way.  We are pro-Club and pro-investment"
- "We think it is time for some fresh ideas to be introduced to take the Club forward..."
- "We've met David Brierley a few times and I'll say publicly that we got on quite well"
- "We are merely asking the board to take the fans and the public of Oldham with them.  We're all in it together - we all want Oldham Athletic to move forward - but we've all got to pull in the same direction and, sometimes, things that fans say won't particularly please the chairman - but he will have to accept that as part of his job.  We have to have a constructive dialogue where both parties are honest with each other.our door is always open"
- "The problem we have is that when we ask questions we are told we are being negative.  We are certainly not negative.  We love OAFC and just want the best for it.  We think the best way to move forward.is for us all to sit down in an open meeting with all supporters and talk about these things in the open air.  We don't think that an air of suspicion is healthy for the Club"

The basic theme of the interview was a) recognition that David Brierley's takeover represents a modest improvement on the previous scenario and b) an appeal to the Club to talk to the fans - stop treating them as mushrooms - and to bridge the 'gap' that has built up between boardroom and terraces in recent years.  Nothing would please me more if the Club called an open supporters' meeting and allowed questions to be asked in an open and frank manner.  You rightly point out that OAFC is a business, therefore the fans as principal customers and 'stakeholders' in the Company have every right to sk questions in order to clear up any remaining suspicions or qualify any misunderstandings that have resulted directly from this 'gap'.

Sadly, as GMR pointed out at the end of the radio interview, Jack Dearden approached the Club to see if they wanted to take part and put their perspective across.  They needlessly declined, and one has to ask why?  What harm would it do for the Club to partake in this?

You say that over the coming days you are going to give us all some "FACTS from within the club, on condition that you don't ask how I get them".  One doesn't need a PhD in Management to work out where you will be getting your facts from, however, if that is what they are why cannot we ask where you get them from?  I have qualified my sources on all statements released to supporters - it forms the basis of trust.  If this is coming from inside the Club I again feel compelled to ask why it is you who is having to 'front' this for them?   If these are positive facts from the Club then why it is not Alan Hardy or David Brierley who is putting them across?  Again, why the 'smoke and mirrors' approach from Athletic? It is so frustrating and so unnecessary.  I would prefer it if we conducted this debate on the basis of a trusting and open dialogue than the politics of the playground.  I have no time for the "Can't tell you who told me this but guess what" approach.  I
have never used this approach with supporters and I don't see why anyone else should do so now.   It gives rise to the sort of questions and confusion amongst fans which you label as 'negative'.

Whatever these facts are, we probably won't dispute them.  In our meetings with David Brierley in the past we have expressed sympathy for the Club's financial plight.  We know how tough the going is - hence our call for an investment plan and future strategies to tackle it.

As a final point you have suggested to me that "perhaps its best to say nowt in future".  Ah yes, the old ignorance is bliss theory eh?  If we all sat back, did nothing and said nowt Jeff then an awful lot of things in this world would go on unchecked.  Do you suggest I adopt the same attitude with everything?  Do you not bother voting or dispute the ways you have ever been treated in past transactions, dealings, employment or by politicians?  Do you think the BBC's Watchdog is a disgrace and that Roger Cook is a menace to stability?  The supporters have as much right to criticise and praise as anyone - "they pays their money" - as the legendary Jimmy Frizzell once rightly pointed out.

In summary, I would like to agree with you.  There's nothing I would like better than to go back to concentrating on doing my website and re-acquainting the wife with who I am again.  All it will take is the calling of a public meeting and a removal of the unnecessary veil of secrecy in the way the Club is run.  I can hardly wait..

Anyway, must dash for now- here's hoping for another win this afternoon!

Carl