R.R.FC

I get the point that we need to unite behind the club at some point and create a positive atmosphere. However, we were only relegated 5 days ago and since then we haven't heard anything from Drysdale and our chairman is still trying to maintain they didn't make a mistake in appointing Locke. I think after the season we've endured we're allowed to be pissed off for more than 5 days.

How many players have moved directly between ourselves and the Pars permanently in recent times? I can't think of too many. Craig Wilson, Andy Tod, Joe Cardle. I can think of a few loans and loads that have played for both but doesn't seem too common for players to move directly between the two.

He was decent over the piece for us. A really good spell in the middle but shaky start and terrible end. If we're keeping Benedictus and Barr I'm glad he's gone. I'd rather have those 2 and think trying to shoehorn the 3 of them into the team made us weaker.

Helps relegate us with 2 howlers and a missed sitter then signs for the Pars, all in the same week. Some boy... He was pretty decent for us but can't see him getting ahead of Ashcroft or Morris.

We're going to pick Gary Locke again aren't we? Can only imagine how impressed our board will be if he keeps Cowdenbeath up...

What are people thoughts on Gus MacPherson? He's one of those names that is always banded around and sounds very uninspiring and I would probably feel a bit of dread if he was appointed tomorrow. However, when you look at his record it is actually pretty good. Barring one shocker of a season at QOS he has around 10 seasons of reasonable success. Seems to be doing a good job at Queen's Park.

I'm as unconvinced about Young as I am with Easton but I suppose at our level, whoever we chose will either lack experience or have a failure on his record. Would have loved Hartley but we would have only had a chance with that if we'd stayed up. Some other possibilities: Stevie Aitken Darren Young Ian Murray Laurie Ellis Craig Easton John McGlynn Stewart Petrie Danny Lennon Russell Latapy Probably in that order of preference for me but we'll need a bit of luck, there's no appointment there that looks a nailed on success.

Agree with this. John Potter's performance at the Pars gives me the fear about appointing a promising youth coach with no management experience. Easton is doing well and I can see him being our manager one day but now is not the time for such a gamble.

The board should not be involved in signing players. The manager should have free reign to sign who he wants within his budget. If the board appointed a competent manager they would trust him to manage the recruitment process. If they can't recruit a competent manager I don't fancy their chances of being any use on player recruitment either.

I've been thinking since Saturday, I'd like to see Laurie at least get interviewed for the job. However, next season is huge for us and can really shape our future, we need to bounce straight back. Any appointment is a risk but I'm not sure it's the right time to appoint somebody with no management experience.

If we were winning every week and Vaughan was sulking and his replacements were banging in the goals, I could maybe see the point. Fact is we were getting beat every week, not scoring goals and Locke still wouldn't give him a chance. Not only that, we was persisting with his mate Rudi fucking Skacel in his position. If he wasn't going to get a chance then, when was he under Locke? I can 100% understand why he was desperate to go out on loan and play games. 2 years not getting game time at his age would be disastrous. He showed loyalty to us by signing a new contract. I'd agree we've not seen the best of him yet but hopefully he stays and that comes next year. A season in League 1 scoring 15-20 goals would do his confidence and stock within the game the world of good and he could move on having hopefully got us back up, with things left on good terms. Im happy with him being ambitious and talking about playing at a higher level. Like not wanting a manager for 4/5 years because it means we won't have progressed, it's the same for players. Unfortunately at our level, if a promising young player like Vaughan is with us 3/4 years from now it's because he's not progressed as he should have. Same goes for Matthews and Callachan.

Have looked into this further. Our record in games Vaughan has started this season is: Played 9 - Won: 5 Lost: 2 Drawn: 2 Goals for: 14 (Average 1.55 per game) Games Vaughan didn't start Played 36 - Won: 7 Lost: 18 Drawn: 11 Goals for: 35 (Average 0.97 per game) Now a lot of this is coincidence as we were already showing signs of a dip with Vaughan in the team and he didn't help himself with his performances off the bench which were largely awful. However, I definitely think he would have added some much needed creativity to our team. Danny Handling was the only player willing to put his foot on the ball and show composure to pick a pass in the latter stages of the season. Regardless of any of this, it wouldn't be discussed nearly as much if the board hadn't loaned him to a team in the same fucking league!

I had a look previously and you can basically tie Vaughan dropping out the team with our drop in form and lack of goals. I think a large part of that is coincidence and he is in danger of being overhyped slightly. However, our record with and without him starting this season makes for worrying reading. There's no doubt in my mind he would be a massive player for us in League 1.

Didn't Toshney hand in a transfer request and demand to move and we still got money for him? What was the difference with Bates?

As covered, a pretty uninspiring interview. Quite right he says he will consider his position, seems strange the chairman has been given such an easy ride compared to the CEO. They should both go after this season. I agree there is a lot of stuff to be sorted regarding players and manager and now is not the time for turmoil in the boardroom. However, can these people really be trusted to oversee these decisions over the next few weeks that will define our future? If they appoint another dud manager and let half our contracted players walk away for free before they consider their future later in the summer then the damage is already done. On a positive note, fair play to the interviewer, thought he handled it well. Asked most of the questions we all wanted answered which must be easier said than done when you work so closely with these people.

Been asked a bunch of times but I'm too lazy to trawl back through, who is under contract for next season? Off the top off my head I've got: Cuthbert Benedictus Davidson Matthews Callachan B. Barr Vaughan Stewart I'm sure I read Craig Barr may be too? That's actually a really good base to build a side around for League 1 if they all stay. Stewart and Davo are the only 2 I wouldn't be too disappointed to see go. Though in saying that someone like Stewart may thrive a level down. Who knows, he may reunite the goalscoring partnership with Vaughan that nobody told Locke about! Anyone know what the contract status is of the development squad players and if any are likely to be ready for the step up? Of the players who have featured regularly this season and aren't contracted for next season there's hardly any of them I'd want back. Handling and Hardie have been decent but are never dropping down to League 1. I'd give Court a deal, he's very raw and must improve his hold up play but he's got something about him and don't think he'd be expensive to keep. Aside from that I'd probably keep Jason Thomson in the hope he'd get back to form but would admit he's not done enough this season to deserve a contract. That would mean we'd have the following players leaving: Brennan Penska M'Voto McHattie Thompson McManus Handling Skacel Johnston Hardie Robertson Roberts I'm probably forgetting a few such is the size of the squad this season.

Fair point. It's the hope that kills you! Given our home record, I'm actually hopeful of getting 3 points but I just can't see St Mirren not getting at least a point.

I get what you mean but it looks very clear cut that Hughes is leaving at the end of the season. A lot of the players are signed with us for next year or playing for their futures as a full time footballer. They have 1 possibly 3-5 games to shape that future. I may be slightly naive but I would think they should be willing to put any personal feelings about Hughes to one side to get through this for the good of the club and themselves. As I say if Hughes was on a 2 year deal and committed to next year, what he said would have been disastrous and alienated the players. But as one final roll of the dice to try and get a reaction before he goes, I think it's worth it.

I wouldn't keep Hughes for next season, a lot of his decisions have been downright bizarre since he came in. But, having said that, it is difficult to judge properly when he has not been able to bring in own players. You just have to look at St Mirren. Jack Ross is being hailed as a hero, and quite rightly too for a fantastic turnaround. However, the initial turnaround when he took charge was minimal at best, it wasn't until he got his own players in that things started to change. Locke was a disaster that everyone could see coming and Drysdale should walk for the shambles that he has caused. Hughes has came in and been a huge disappointment. Despite all this, the players really do have to start taking their fair share of the blame. It's quite incredible how lightly the players have got off this season. I have no problem with Hughes interview, says it like it is. Couldn't care less if the players don't like it or don't like him for it. The interview seems to have been picked up quite a lot by the media so there is a bit of spotlight on the players now to see how they react. They know as well as we do Hughes won't be here next year, downing tools because of that interview would be far more likely to affect them than him. Being honest, I think most of us would accept we deserve to go down, it's actually quite incredible that despite our form since November that we go into the last game unlikely to be relegated automatically. Would be great to see a positive response from the players on Saturday to send us into the play offs with some sort of positivity. Any news on if Cuthbert would be back for the play offs? Brennan is hopeless and Penska has yet to convince me fully (last 2 games in particular).

It just shows what mug punters football fans are. Despite the absolute shit served up on and off the field this year, I'm still probably going to end up buying a super early bird season ticket.

Would you class M'Voto as terrible?

Vaughan league record is good since he got canned just as things started to go downhill. Davo's result stats are pretty irrelevant as you could produce similar stats for the majority of the team. This run of form is down to far, far more than one player. In fact I don't think it can be argued that Davidson has actually been a better right back than Thomson this season. Agree he is finished in midfield but he was never very good there to begin with. He seems a popular but strange target for abuse IMO. He is one of the few who can't have his commitment questioned this season. His distribution is and always has been pretty woeful but it's not really what I look for in a defender/defensive mid. That's what our 'forward thinking' players are for.

I thought it was one of Hughes' former players rather than an ex Rovers player?

They couldn't of hired anyone more capable of finishing the job.

It could be our Cowdenbeath moment.