Is it the end of the road for Paul Baker?

By C & G'ite
May 22 2003

Following on from todays interview with current chairman Paul Baker how deep in trouble are we and could this hamper our chances of automatic promotion back to the second division.

With today's Gloucestershire reporting a cash flow crisis and Chairman Paul Baker describing it as the worst financial position the club has been in since 1997 it's easy to understand why the fans are already filling message boards with angry responses. The truth is the fans of Cheltenham Town FC demand, no EXPECT promotion this coming season and under the guidance of the experienced Bobby Gould only a fool would bet against a team that was desperately unlucky to be relegated on the final day and should have too much skill for the basement division. Players such as Northern Ireland duo Grant McCann and Mike Duff would not look out of place in the first division alongside of star performers such as Martin Devaney, John Finnigan and Jamie Victory we have the nucleus of a decent second division side so the high expectations of the fans can be justified. Following on for the release of eleven players at the end of the season and the transfer of the appalling Hugh McAuley to local rivals Kidderminster Harriers fans expected an influx of proven players still young enough to progress up the league ladder. While other clubs released players they could no longer afford the financially stable robins could swoop and skim the cream of the talent from the crop of Bosman transfers.

Now it appears a different story is unfolding, season ticket sales have been slow and very poor with only 250 sold even the leagues minnows Macclesfield have sold more. It appears that the Chairman is once again taking a cheap option which last season included the appointment of a manager who at the time had been recently sacked from local non-league side Worcester City. Such an error in judgement by the board cost the club dearly, fans knew almost immediately that Allner was not the right man for the job and everyone else could see it after only a few games yet 'Mr Dull' was allowed to continue until the turn of the year before he was finally given the boot. The one error alone must have cost the club a tidy sum now we hear they aren't going to invest in the team to ensure a swift return to division two. It seems the club that Cotterill built is slowly falling apart, for every step taken under the legendary Cotterill we are now taking the two step backwards.

Last season saw angry fans demonstrate against the much despised previous manager Graham Allner. Fans chanted for the managers head, raised Allner out banners and some extremists even graffitied the main entrance to the clubs car park in an effort to rid their club of the Ex-Kidderminster man, it worked but will a similar campaign follow for Paul Baker. It's obviously too soon to say but if the Reds fail in their promotion bid blame will turn to anger and that it appears will be vented at the board.