Respect?

Back at Imraan's Wicksteed rally I recall a moment when Imraan almost wobbled and lost his audience. Buoyed by the way the meeting was turning heavily in his favour he seemingly over-reached himself for a moment.

He wanted the Poppies to "respect" the former tennants of our new ground. Perhaps name a stand after Dale Roberts (something his own club didn't actually do...) He also floated the idea of a badge change, and the posibility of a name change if an unspecified level of support was not forthcoming from the people of Kettering.

Fortunately for Imraan, any further probing on these points was drowned out by vocal elements of the numpty brigade who were so joyously intent on moving to Non Park with its comfy seats and fine banqueting facilities, they were nursing half-bars all night long.

On Radio Northampton last night Morrell echoed Imraan's earlier statements.

It strikes us that this is a dangerous path to tread at this time. Northampton Town are making a concerted effort to attract former Direones, but aren't offering to change their name of colours. NEITHER SHOULD WE!

By no means all the Poppies fans are sold on the Non Park move. Most are of the, "We'll give it a go for the first few games" opinion. An opinion that could quickly be altered if our team take to the pitch running out of the Duane Darby Stand, to the sounds of "Diamonds are Forever", playing in a red and blue kit, with a picture of a cyclops on the club badge!

Imraan does not want to completely alienate any Direones who are considering attending their old stadium - fair enough. BUT, does he really want to hoover up a few stragglers who only really liked the stadium rather than the team, at the risk of losing his own hardcore support?

By attempting to tread a middle ground he could very well lose Kettering and Direones alike. This is football - there is no middle ground. It's one or the other. Imraan would do well to remember that from time to time.