Who's buying all the drinks in the last chance saloon?

Given the secular nature of our society (he says, munching on an Easter egg) we find it difficult to invoke the Almighty in our hour of relegation-threatened need.  Once upon a time we would have offered up prayers that we would beat Leamington tomorrow and then, somehow, follow that up with a win at Spennymoor.  But not now.  We've given up on Saints and Saviors.

These days we are more pragmatic.  Instead of praying to an unknown God we pray to known men who might have a few spare bob and the inclination to throw it our way.

Seemingly we are prepred to throw off a decade of good governance in order to bend the knee once more to a hoped-for sugar-daddy.  The thought of relegation is so incomprehensible to some of us that we would gladly see someone, anyone with cash to burn, acquire the Poppies and make everything good again.

Would we care who did this, as long as they could personally fund a future play-off push?  I doubt it.  If Kim Jong-Un or Gary Glitter promised copious investment and a guaranteed place in the FA Cup 1st Round Proper I fear we'd have takers.

Much like the softening of Stalin's reputation in post-truth Russia, the lessons we thought we'd learnt from Imraan's reign are being forgotten.  To rely on one man's wealth again would turn us from supporters to serfs.  Subject to the day-to-day whims of an overlord.

I hope with all my being that we can go out tomorrow and beat Leamington.  Then do the double over Spennymoor and have a great night after trouncing Chester in our last home game.  There is nothing I'd like more.  If it doesn't go our way and the worst happens I'm going to feel pig-sick for a long while.  Absolutely wretched.  But it's not going to completely eat me up.  When next season's fixtures come out I'll be ready to go again.  We've come back from worse and we'll do it again.  If football doesn't hurt you as much as it can thrill, you're not doing it right.  No amount of "investment" can guarantee a future free from pain.  The Poppies, better than most clubs should know this.

"How much for Frankie Maguire?"