TOTAL frustration. No other words can describe our feelings after the Altrincham game.

Regrettably boredom and failure can also be added. There is no need to describe the game in detail.

Two mistakes were made. The eleven players selected were those I anticipated but surely Rob Sinclair should have remained in central midfield with Clovis Kamdjo wide on the right. This mistake was compounded by a wrong substitution. Jon Parkin had a wretched second half and he should have been taken off. Chris Stokes could have been brought on and Marcus Kelly pushed forward. So good on most occasions with substitutions Ady got it wrong and paid the price.

The away game at Halifax produced a better performance. The match could and should have been won. However the unacceptable fracas after the final whistle has understandably grabbed the headlines.

Yet again Rovers have shot themselves in the foot. No points, three players sent off and the likely event of FA action is the disgraceful bottom line for a night that could have been so different. To those of us who love the club and the wider game as well, it was a wretched night.

Just one person emerged with any credit – our manager. Ady missed the fracas. He was shaking hands with each of the seventeen fans who had made the long journey. Good for him and I know his actions were properly appreciated. Sadly this genuine football man was sadly let down, not just by some of our players but by some support staff as well.

There was nothing Ady could do but subsequent damage limitation. This does not reflect Forest Green values he said and subsequently added our players must learn to win and lose gracefully. The following day he went beyond the call of duty, telephoning Halifax fans who had rung up complaining.

It seems to me that he was and is in an isolated position, dealing with critical fans and inquiring media all on his own. He did it well but surely his prime task was to be setting up a team for Saturday’s game. We were three key players short and needed to regroup.

Readers will know I respect and value Chairman Dale Vince’s vision for this club as well as his life saving support of it but that does not mean Dale and the board get everything right, and what follows is criticism of them.

Early Wednesday morning there should have been a club statement, ready for the morning sports bulletins (Radio Gloucestershire, Bristol, etc). Here is one I prepared earlier. “Forest Green football club regrets the incidents at Halifax last night. A club inquiry will take place and if necessary required action will be taken.”

In actual fact this is quite bland, no blame is attributed to anyone and it takes media pressure off the manager. It also shows the club to be both aware of what happened and caring about it. It speaks not just to us, but to the watching FA. As yet there has been no evidence that we are doing anything.

Start now directors – I hope it is not too late.

The Mangan muddle and the possible three point deduction reflect poorly on the club administration. When cancelling a player’s contract the reasons may be undeniable, but procedures must be perfectly followed – were they in this case? Similarly with the registration of Luke Oliver – something must have been wrong. There is still a chance the appeal will be successful but if not .......?

The millstone of inadequate players on ridiculously long contracts is of course a handover from the previous regime, but it is still with us. One such player could not even earn a position on the bench yesterday. These glaring mistakes indicate a lack of football awareness at board level.

Being at the sharp end of cricket management and administration since 1990 (and with the scars to prove it) I offer some advice.

In terms of the media get your retaliation in first.

The manager must be allowed to concentrate on football.

If you need outside advice ask!

Respect and work closely with the PFA if there are problems with players.

Read all the small print.

At the moment so many at the club need to do better.