I doubt anyone would argue with the assertion that the period since the end of last season has been as dismaying, and as surreal, as any that most of us will remember for supporters of Blackpool FC.

The black farce shows no sign of ending soon either, if the events - or nonevents - of this week are anything to go by. All you can say at the end of it is that the manager remains as stubborn as ever, and the chairman as seemingly impotent and indecisive as he has ever been in all his time at the club.

People are naturally upset and angry about all this. We all want the club to do well, and I've got into hot water in the past for saying that I want the chairman to succeed. My argument is that as all of us who follow the club have a vested interest in him doing that aspect of his job well.

The pity of it is , is that there are some things about his stewardship that I DO like. His refusal to pay agents who often do more to obstruct deals than promote them is admirable. His unwillingness to spend large amounts of money on transfer fees when other ways of recruiting are available is, to my mind, eminently sensible.

There is, however, a big "but". The inability or unwillingness to communicate with supporters has reached a truly baffling pitch now ; this week I've heard two strong rumours about new managers set to arrive at the club, only for nothing to happen - and no explanation to be forthcoming.

It is this last saga that has most disappointed me. Quite apart from the obvious risk of being guilty of constructive dismissal, openly touting for a new man whilst the current one is in situ is unprofessional and discourteous to an extraordinary degree. None of us know for certain what has caused the relationship between KO and JR to deteriorate to such a level ; but the truth is that only they can do something about it, and do something they must if we are to get away from the foot of the table and out of the mess we are in.

This becomes all the more important when you consider that the season has barely started and it is still well within our grasp to catch up to others in the bottom half. Two home wins in the next few days would go a long way to getting us back in contention, and we can only hope that two weeks of fitness work will help the players to deliver them. But it needs a common focus from everyone from the chairman down on winning football matches against what will be confident opponents.

Procrastination is often said to be the thief of time. It will also rob us of a status we waited 29 long years to get back if the people at the top of the club don't start pulling in the same direction now. And as the chairman, I think the onus is with KO to decide NOW whether JR is part of the team or not, and be clear with us all one say or the other.

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