It was February 2017, when a fellow TEF'r decided we were fucked and League 2 was looming by posting the following:
I think most folk now accept we're as good as down, so who do you want departing L2, and who joining us from L1 and arriving from the Conference.
I'd like to see Donny, Carlisle, Plymuff, ColU, going up, Orient and Crewe going down.
Joining us Cov, Chesterfield and Port Vale, with Lincoln and Forest Green promoted.
This would leave Newport, Wycombe, Exeter, Luton, Pompey, Mansfield, Grimsby, Cambridge, Blackpool, Yeovil, Crawley, HPool, Cheltnum, Stevenage, Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Barnet and Notts County
A fairly southern based league, with FGR as a new ground along with Grimsby boasting added fish theme.
Only Accy and HPool as pointless norvern journeys. Crewe, the ex railway Towns proving that developing young players and selling them on gets you to the Conference.....Lincoln make a weekend of it and take the missus.
Plenty of localish games with Crawley for revenge, as we all now hate them, and Cambridge for a love in from the TEF Power haters.
Based on what I've read over the past few days, it's fair to say the general feel is that our days as a FL outfit look numbered. As has been alluded to previously, Power's business model will not really be impacted should we lose FL status. In fact, he may well feel that the National League is a more suitable level to blood youngsters and recruit non league talent with a view to selling on for big sums, to a Peterborough etc. Granted, a rebuild would be required on the playing side but Flitters showed us last summer that there are jobbing lower league gaffers out there who are more than capable of assembling a functional side at short notice and on a relative shoe string.
A quick glance at the National League table brings up some interesting potential ties...the likes of Barrow, Bromley and our old foes Aldershot are mired in midtable and look to be certain opponents.
Should Cheltenham accompany us in dropping down then at least we'd have the Wilts-Gloucester mini league, and it would be good to lock horns with Chippenham should they win promotion.
What's not to like?