Waiting

So, has Imraan accepted the Council's offer for private talks? Or is he still holding out for a public debate? I truly hope it is the former. As much as we all like the idea of a big, open, public debate with the club and council on the top table, it would clearly turn into a noisy slanging match. Much better to have the public meeting when the club and council have yanked the irons out of the fire and reached a mutually beneficial settlement. Yes, we'll call one of the stands, the "Hakewell Stand" if that's what it takes. They can call the two terraces the Hitler and Stalin terraces for all I care, and I'd gladly book a table in the Pol Pot Lounge for my pre-match meal if it means we have somewhere to play.

I fervently hope that more is going on behind the scenes than is obvious to the outside observer. At the moment we are a club in limbo. A draw against Leeds, a win away at Luton, and a forthcoming replay at Elland Road, with Manchester United waiting in the wings, and what happens? We lose again at home to a moderate Salisbury, with barely more than a thousand people in the ground. We should be revelling in our unprecedented success! Dave Tailby should be running around 'Arborough with his willy hanging out!

This is something I never understand about the Poppies. A couple of thousand extra people turn up for the Leeds game, and somehow we fail to hang onto any of them the following Saturday. Why is this?

Are we the only team that never seems to build on its hardcore support in any meaningful way? Is it down to the pricing structure? The ticketing arrangements? The complete lack of certainty over our future? Or, more likely, a mixture of all of the above?

Imraan, do us all a favour and talk to the council, and make it soon!