My first foray into writing for a nationally published tome had been for the 1996/97 season in Survival of the Fattest 3. (Check it out by clicking the link). Two years later Dave Espley asked me to do it for the 1998/99 season. Once gain the remit was 2,000 words, but the subject matter was a trifle less engaging. It had been a season of little to enthuse about. The second sentence of my piece sums things up. “It’s hardly a case of where to start more a debate on whether it started at all”. But there were plenty of off the field events to address and the 2,000 words were duly delivered, but only after a late addition which was necessary following Gary Megson’s departure.

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My contribution was written in June 1999 and is reproduced as originally written.

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STOCKPORT COUNTY

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THE TEA PARTY

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So the remit was to deliver 2000 words on the ’98-99 season. It’s hardly a case of where to start, more a debate on whether it started at all. At a time when the rest of the local clubs were involved right to the end, our season effectively ended with an Easter Monday victory at the Reebok. To those of us who believe that Bolton have ideas far beyond their station, this at least gave consolation that their self-proclaimed rightful return to the Premiership more than likely could now only be through the play-offs. We watched on as City and Wigan battled to join us, and as Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and Macclesfield fought the spectre of relegation with varying degrees of failure. The less said about events in Stretford the better.

For virtually the first time in 30 years this was a non-season – for County followers used to fighting re-election battles for the greater part of that time, and more recently moving upwards, the 50 games, (only one more than the bare minimum), are long forgotten, even though the season is now but a month gone.

And yet, as August dawned there had been a fair degree of optimism around Edgeley. After all, the previous campaign had seen County reach the highest point in their history. Megson seemed to have taken on where Dave Jones had left off, despite the crucial loss of Paul Jones and Todd. The selling frenzy continued in his first year, with Marsden and Armstrong disappearing to fellow Division 1 outfits, and with them any seeming ambition. And yet we still finished eighth. On reflection it was pretty galling that the side Jones brought up would, if kept together, have more than likely been in the play-offs. But there were no real complaints, other than from some of the Johnny Come Lately’s who hadn’t experienced the really dark days; and there had been plenty of them.

The summer passed quietly, with Megson bringing in Carlo Nash from Palace, seemingly more famous for male modelling than any expertise between the sticks. Nothing else happened until a week before the season, when Chairman Elwood released the Edgeley Park purse strings – which had seemed more secure than the Bank of England – and lashed out £800,000 on Ian Moore. This was spending unheard of, and was further bolstered by the Bosman acquisition of Graham Branch (undoubtedly one of the most spineless players ever to don the blue and white), from Tranmere, more than likely as a result of the short-lived McNally connection.

The initial optimism continued apace, as an opening-day victory at Valley Parade, in a game of three penalties, saw the faithful return over the hills in good heart. And that’s about where it stopped, as three days later a truly dismal display against Hull in the League Cup set the scene for months to come. Briefly, highlights were few: A fighting display at a snowbound Stadium of Light, which saw the locals fairly muted; a truly satisfying beating of Birmingham, which evinced the normal moans, groans and pitiful excuses from Francis, and which came in the middle of a three game winning spell that effectively banished the spectre of relegation; and that display at the Reebok. And that’s about it.

Lowlights were far too many to mention – suffice it to say that it was a common perception that the team seemed to have got their swimming trunks and sun tan oil out by early April, as a veritably abject run-in culminated in a five-goal pasting at relegated Oxford on the last day. The last month was about no pride and no heart. Frankly, in that time, the support they got at Ipswich, Pompey and the Manor Ground, (none of them a five-minute jaunt), was undeserved – because those who did travel were short-changed.

So, how to review a season? You’ve got to look at the management first of all – and plenty did that over the last month. There was a distinct impression that Megson’s judgement of a player is open to question. After all, Phillips, Alsaker, eventually Cook, and maybe Nixon were all found wanting. But that was about operating in the bargain sale – Elwood provided precious little cash, and certainly nowhere near enough to compete in the Division. Megson unearthed a gem in McIntosh, but Moore proved a sore disappointment.

Those who called for Megson’s head seemed to have an incredibly short memory, and certainly not one that stretched back to February, when investment was sorely needed, and he was provided with a king’s ransom of £10,000, (yes, ten thousand). Clubs in the Unibond League were spending more than that. To his credit, for the equivalent of three day’s pay for the likes of Beckham, he went out and got Dave Smith from Oxford, (a true bargain), and old-stager Tony Ellis, whose 6 goals from 16 starts proved that he hadn’t lost the knack of finding the back of the net, which he’d shown at a myriad of Clubs over the years. But, I ask you, ten grand when two-bit players from all over Europe command £5m fees!

And Megson was hardly helped with the long-term absence of the truly class Tom Bennett, (whose return at Huddersfield some 13 months after a horrific leg break brought probably the biggest cheer of the season. Equally sadly Chris Byrne, another big plus in Megson’s favour, lasted just 12 games before a serious leg injury put him out for the duration. The Ginger Whinger, (© the mailing list moaners), had to return to loanees, and discovered a cracker in Derek McInnes, who subsequently returned to a cup winners medal at Ibrox, and Paul Hughes from Chelsea.

In summary, Megson was expected to run a First Division club with Second Division, (or maybe even lower), resources. That’s sadly the nub of the problem and an appropriate time to turn to the Board. Two years ago County exceeded all expectations. A run to the Coke semi, FA Cup progress and then promotion – all filled the Edgeley Park coffers as never before. Add to that a whole shedload of incoming transfer cash as the promotion team was broken up, and the fans had a right to expect some serious investment, if not a push for the Eldorado of the Premiership, then at least to be able to compete in the top 44 clubs in English football.

Well, that certainly never happened, and questions began to be asked about the whereabouts of this cash. In its own inimitable style, and true to form, the Board were less than forthcoming about this until eventually, and mysteriously, two years accounts were produced at one go. And they had an interesting tale to tell, to say the least. A net profit of over £2m had accrued over the two years.

Fans were well aware that there had been precious little put back into team affairs. There was a new stand to marvel at and the ptich had needed relaying. But the true tale was that well over £1m had disappeared back into the Director’s pockets, by them (and most of it presumably relates to El;wood) having their loans repaid. There was a bit of indignation about this, but on reflection what galled most people was the cloak of secrecy which had surrounded the issue.

The Board had the perfect right to take the money – after all, it was they who had put it into the Club in the first place – but the resolute indifference to letting people know what was going on, (much of it at the margins of company law in terms of publication of accounts), led to a lot of exasperation from those who began to see themselves purely as turnstile fodder who were expected to pay well over the odds any time a big match loomed at Edgeley Park.

The Board hardly did themselves any favours as fans’ favourite Mike Flynn was courted by our old pal Jasper, (aka Trevor Francis), who was keen to spend more of the porn millions. Flynny, quite rightly recognising his value to the team, but wrongly not feeling bound to a contract he had signed, held out for a better deal, after having heard that Spurs were purportedly interested as well. The Board apparently made offers, then promptly withdrew them, leaving the fans angry and bemused as they saw the prospect of Flynn disappearing. After tow or three weeks of unsavoury goings-on, and much to the relief of all, the cash was stumped up and Flynny is due to be with us for another four years.

Despite the calls for Megson to go, it really is about investing for the future – and make no bones about it, that’s just for First Division survival. So the grand news, announced in April, of substantial resources being ploughed into the Club was greeted with a huge sigh of indifference, once the plans came to light. A new stand, (admittedly long awaited), which will bring much needed succour to the long-suffering away fans, who currently have to brave the elements, together with hotel and conference facilities, was hardly what was demanded or needed.

Failing desperately to gain the headlines on the back page, there seemed to be some kind of deathwish to appear on the news pages. Firstly, Aaron Wibraham, finding it difficult to live up the promise that he showed in a few games at the back end of the previous season found himself up before the beak after an incident with a baseball bat in leafy Knutsford. Not long after that came the summary dismissal of “Mad Harry” McNally, Megson’s chief scout. Sent to Scotland to eye some talent, by all accounts a three day long trip ended with no players but a hefty bar bill, which led to a swift and unceremonious departure.

Then there was long term injury victim Chris Byrne, obviously with too much time on his hands, whi came to the attention of the constabulary as he left a chemist’s shop, which unfortunately for him was closed to customers at the time. Finding himself in the dock some months later, he must have been relieved not to be given a room at the Strangeways Hotel, but instead gave us a new angle on the “county in th Community” prograame, with a sentecne of 240 hours community service.

But the most bizarre episode came with Dessie Byrne – a 17 year old just breaking into the first team..An incident in a local club, involving what might allegedly and euphemistically be called a ‘glassing’, left Ian Moore sporting a black eye amongst other things. Dessie had apparently displeased some of the (ahem) tougher elements of the Salford area. Retribution was sought as a vanload of hooded and tooled-up characters descended on a training session.

Showing much of the spirit they did throughout the season, the players fled to the sanctuary of the dressing-room leaving Megson to face the foe. Showing the same oratorical skills he displayed in his on-pitch addresses to the fans, but perhaps with more success, he managed to calm the situation. It led to Byrne’s quick trip to the airport, more for his own safety, but with employment at County terminated. The whole affair was cloaked in secrecy, with all the players under orders not to comment.

There was lots of talk about Byrne being a fall-guy for a more senior player in the episode, but the fundamental question as to why senior professionals were encouraging under-age drinking still remains unanswered – and, given the Tribunal’s verdict that dismissal was not unfair, will presumably remain a mystery.

So, if the next year is about making headlines for the right reasons, what are the prospects? The return of Bennett and Chris Byrne will bring much needed guile to the middle of the park – it’ll be like two quality signings. With that, the problem will remain up front. A four goal return from 42 games leaves many a question around Moore. A strike force of 60 odd years and no pace between them, in Angell and Ellis, will hardly leave Division 1 defences quaking, good players that they both are.

Overall Division 1 football demands Division 1 commitment, both on and off the field. We didn’t see too much of the former for much of last year and I’m afraid that however attractive to the corporate customer hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities might be, if the product isn’t good on the field then there’ll be plenty of vacant sponsorship slots.

The Board at County seemingly have a lot of ambition but it’s perceived as being directed towards business plans which concentrate on corporate hospitality rather than the football. All in all, it’s time for them to give the manager the resources to do the job properly – only then can he be properly judged. Last season was a pretty wearying nine months – and sadly the only conclusion can be that, without a redirection of ambition at Board level, the Millenium campaign could well be a long and sorry winter.

The above was written on June 10. It’s now June 25 – and the news has just been confirmed, after a week of speculation, that Megson has been fired. Opinions will undoubtedly be mixed, but I stand by all that is written above. Whatever the reasons underlying the sacking, there can still be no escaping the fact that no-one can do a First Division job without the tools. So, six weeks from opening day, we find ourselves rudderless with Andy Kilner, the Club’s “football in the community” supremo elevated, but only on a temporary basis. What a way to prepare for a season – the phrase a ‘long and sorry winter’ may well be something of an understatement.

Martin Frost