Sean Dyche found 'Guilty' on appeal, a different approach to training - and the Donny game of course. All in this Sunday's update...
A steady start to the new season.
The 09/10 campaign has begun with a hard-fought draw at home to Doncaster.
In truth the draw was probably fair on the balance of play, we may have shaded possession but didn’t test Doncaster keeper Neil Sullivan all that much and Scott did have to pull off a fine save in the second half to keep the scores level.
So the feeling in the dressing room after the game was of slight disappointment but knowing this is only the start of what we believe will be a promising season.
A quick mention for Danny Graham who’s really shone so far since joining us, I know he’s delighted that the tribunal all got sorted without too much hassle and I’m sure the fee we paid will turn out to be a bargain on the evidence that we’ve seen so far.
The week’s training was the first one building up for a game; when I say that I mean it was tough Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by slightly less taxing days on Thursday and Friday in preparation for the match.
We have a fines committee in place this season and the lads will get fined for misdemeanours such as lateness, or leaving kit in places it shouldn’t be, or not wearing flip-flops in the showers etc.
Once fined you do have the chance of appealing against your fine and the option of taking it to court. We had our first court case this week: Sean Dyche was fined for lateness on our trip to Spain yet denied that he was late and claimed he had evidence to support that he was on time.
The prosecution was made up of myself and Jobi, Dychey defended himself and the jury was made up of our two kit men, Bob Oteng and Will Jones, and three members of the playing staff, Danny Graham, Scott Severin and Rob Kiernan.
After a lengthy trial the jury came to their verdict of 'Guilty', meaning that the fine was doubled. In fairness to Dychey, he accepted his punishment and paid on the spot!
A busy week ahead as we face Barnet in the League Cup then away to Sheffield United next Saturday. I’ll be sure to report on both of those games and anything else next week - RL.