HIS latest debacle at Saints is by far the most serious and will haunt the club for years, perhaps even bring it to its knees.

The supporters have totally had enough. In just seven months, Ellery Hanley has become a cult figure, a hero. Already acknowledged as a fine coach who will only improve, his honest and brave analysis of the running of the club has caught the imagination of the fans who still have a bitter taste left by the Howes/Ashton/Goulding/ etc. affairs of a year or two ago.

On taking action against such a terrace champion, the club is alienating its supporters and attendances will consequently fall sharply. This will mean, of course, less money to spend on players and further difficulties with the salary cap.

Some would say this is self-defeating but to many this is a fair price to pay and make a fresh start, looking at the long term.

Another problem is the players. They are on record as supporting the stance of their coach, who they obviously respect enormously. Will they want to stay? Could we attract new players - or indeed a new top coach - with reduced income and no available cash? I think not. It is not scaremongering to say that we could be the next Halifax, or even Widnes, competing in the Northern Ford Premiership in a few years time. Can they really allow this to happen?

The board think the club belongs to them and the shareholders. That may be legally true, but this club - like many others - really belongs to its fans who make or break it. The fans demand a change

M. Webster, Newton-le-Willows (full address supplied).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.