NEW COLUMN: Well, Did The Earth Move For You?

ALBEIT, to hold it behind closed doors to hide the sure-fire embarrassment of the bizarre and twisted decision making process being revealed which resulted in the 15 point deduction.

The squealing and bleating has already started. Threats from Doncaster if we usurp them. Others are at it too...

Are we bothered what a moderate Division 1 player thinks or a mid-placed Manager espouses?

Well I like to think I am not too, but the siege mentality has taken hold of me and it makes my bile rise.

Darren Wrack, lately of Walsall and future of retirement and oblivion, has written a passionate piece in the Racing Post where he castigates us for having the temerity to object to (as he states) a well-deserved and righteous punishment.

He doesn't know the rights and wrongs but you shouldn't appeal against an injustice because, well because....

Good job he wasn't the judge for the Guildford 4 eh!! - and he writes a piece every week. You don't need me to explain how entertaining it is.

Martin Ling, the Leyton Orient manager was a little more eloquent and took a more reasoned and wider perspective in his piece before stating unequivocally that court will be necessary if we push them out of a play off place.

Again, the inherent rights of the case and appeal are dismissed, "as teams have made plans based on our deduction"! You couldn't make it up, could you...

He did state that the football world was aware and fully expecting, we were going to get some points back. On that point alone I hope he is right but he should be writing for the "writhing post" rather than the erstwhile Racing Post.

I think they deserve better than this self-centred twaddle.

It also makes you think whether the dictionary definitions of justice should be revamped to suit the football world.

A couple of footballisms could be as follows; Under the words "independent decision" the definition should read, "to ensure self-interest is preserved at all times, regardless of justice".

How about "fair punishment". This could read as "To rebuke and reprimand as long as it's them and not us"

Under "Leeds United"- find " Its time to make a stand, to make an example of said team, regardless of how many have done (whatever needs rectifying) it before"

The bile is rising along with the bout of paranoia.

Ever onwards and upwards though and here's hoping the next time our paths cross we will have some of those points back... The t-shirt people will have a field day.....

I for one am already planning a celebration and we have booked a box at Port Vale in readiness. It does co-incide with a stag do though... Prawn sarnies and Beef Wellington at the ready...

I HOPE we find the proverbial corner is turned, 10 points in one game would be nice too, though there was precious little sign of this corner at Swindon and the result could have been different if Swindon could head straight from 2 yards or avoid blasting a 6 yarder out of the ground and "over the moon".

Come to think of it that could be another one for the football dictionary under "our lucky day--please"....