Might just be me being pessimistic, but that is what I'm expecting.
Austin staying or going feels much like the difficulties faced when trying to solve the ''Trolley Problem'' with a satisfactory outcome in both scenarios. IS it more moral for us Town fans because we have the ''attachment'' to him? I don't know. DV and I discussed this the other day and it appeared similar conversations had been had amongst friends regarding the pros and cons of Austin staying. Yep, still torn myself on it. I'd like to see him stay as part of an integrated coaching role and still have him for a season as a squad player. I think a lot of us felt similarly like this with Caddis and it never materialised.
I don't think at present investment levels, Town can afford the luxury of having Austin in that capacity...I don't know, as I don't know what the balance sheet of individual contracts look like. Maybe if several of the younger lads that aren't so great, the likes of Hutton sold and Williams gone then it might be something the club can do?
Where the ''Trolley Problem'' comes in is that it feels a little bit like ''all your eggs in one basket'' to some degree and is it really worth shuffling things to make a bit part player fit into a system he won't fully fit into? Whilst I do think offering him a position to become a coach/mentor would be a nice and honourable touch in recognition of his service to Town [much like Lee Peacock, Austin certainly is above Lee [as love-leh as he is] in terms of fan appreciation.], I'm leaning towards Jephcott if he can convert his recent form into at least half a seasons worth then Town should focus on keeping him; especially if he's coupled as part of two up front.
It's a decision I wouldn't envy, as previously stated and although it seems unlikely, it could be that Town end up keeping both Austin and Jephcott; something that isn't possible in the Trolley Problem. Damn you Philippa Foot and your double effect game, damn you.
With all the above being said, if the ''Fat Man'' is Steve Evans then I'd have no issues pushing him off the bridge
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Tuesday vs St.Evanage wasn't the dicking that several had predicted and it's disappointing that Town probably should have come away with something - probably a point at least. It does show us a few things though. How shit the league is, how shit overall Town must be to be mid table and just how very shit you have to be to end up in the bottom two. A team like Crawley celebrating that they are effectively safe is not something to celebrate at all, although it's all relative and for them it is probably like a trip to Wembley. Sooner they are back in Non-League the better.
Town played ok, it's a shocking indictment of pro footy that people have come to accept professional refereeing standards in League Two and One when it comes to decision making in regards to penalties and Town deserved at the very very least one peno. I think this is where the FA fails big time in referee recruitment?
Anyway, I do think we are seeing the slow turning of the ship via Morris and Brand. I think it is definitely hampered by the limited experience of the playing personnel. Several of these players probably will go on to be better players than they are now but playing effectively STFC U23s as the main League Two squad is always going to be a struggle, for the players and management, let alone from a spectating point of view. Several of these players probably still need to be on the training ground or picking up valuable game time in...an actual U23 side, going on loan to a suitable level or at best being integrated to first team League Two games/squads on a performance basis only. Town this season have shot themselves in the foot by recruiting too heavily in the area of youth and development - meaning these types of players have had more game time than necessary. This will also be frustrating for both management and players because they all should be aware they probably shouldn't be playing at this level this often at this stage of their development. It's really what the pisspot trophy should be used/advocated for.
Recruiting for an U23 style team without the proper infrastructure is the biggest and obvious dropped ball. Had this approach been done AFTER Town had invested in a purpose built facility for player development then fantastic. Even then the first team would still need that blend of experience/mentorship/youth in order to succeed. A factor that has been seemingly missed or a massive oversight by senior level board members of the Town hierarchy.
We can only hope that by the mistakes made, many things can be learnt and also remedied by now having that experience bestowed upon themselves by themselves. It would not surprise me to see Town challenge at the top end of the table next season if everything is applied correctly. After all, Stevenage just stayed up last season via ''the Slug'' and I doubt they have changed THAT much since; whilst Town don't have to play the same way, all League Two should be about is playing a way to get out of the godforsaken pit of basement pro footy. The club can then start to think about developing talents whilst having the relative comfort of a division, separating our club from impending-football-league-trapdoor-doom [thanks Reg] but it still comes with the massive caveat of having the infrastructure in place to do so first.
