[Devongone]

I think what I'm trying to say about GC and is that he says sensible stuff about player development and team building for instance, very much as AC sounds the part on finances ............ but what has been going on over the last few years now always makes me wonder whether there is a whole other agenda I'm missing. I'm not usually one for embracing conspiracy theories, though I love reading about them ......... but when so many things turn out to be not what they seem the circumstantial evidence begins to build.

I don't think Danny Wilson or Dean Saunders are bad men or idiots, any more than I think Caldwell is worse than naive. But all three have worked in such difficult circumstances that measuring their performance only on win/lose ratios is harsh. They are all men with human failings though. GC for instance is almost certainly ditching Dan Jones because he gave voice to his feelings certainly on-field and probably off it too. His injury record has become a worry but he certainly wasn't one of our worst players. DW clearly didn't rate SEB's attitude and consigned him to both inner and outer darkness, from which no one could benefit. BUT the real issue is not petty human and managerial failures it is how much the constraints under which they are working create the results they achieve. DW is certainly capable of achieving success and is very experienced, GC is very inexperienced but has already won a division. Both have struggled to achieve anything with us. Dean Saunders may not have had managerial success, but he has sent sides on winning runs and certainly does know the game ...... and he was heading us for relegation too.

Add in that Paul Cook chose to leave us at high speed rather than build another promotion bid when his successful team inevitably broke up ............. it suggests to me that Mr Allen's "break" from the club is just visible recognition of the continuing turmoil just below the surface for several years. Chesterfield is dysfunctional. Though we sell players for decent fees our debt never reduces, we do not buy replacement players and we were one of the lower-wage clubs in Division One. To me this suggests either our debt was incurred on such unfavourable interest terms that we can never do more than keep up with the interest payments, or that the whole of our business plan, like maintenance of the ground, payment of staff and potential income are out of kilter and unsustainable. If neither of those apply the explanation would be criminality (again).

If we take a good hiding at Bramall Lane this morning I'll hate it. We'll all question GC's decision to tell three players they are out next season and thus exclude them from this final game. I'll be asking how come SEB occupied the bench and the pitch in front of German and Beesley when he clearly had no future, but these questions over management style and decision-making only mask the the real problem and prevent us asking the questions someone urgently needs to put to the club.