steeldrew

On the communications side, I think it was a very good strategy. It's a relatively cheap thing that you can do to build your club's profile, build the profile of the players and therefore build the profile of the club, making it more attractive to sponsors and potential signings. You can debate the merits of that however much you like, but there's a reason businesses measure mentions and sentiment. And even if the club aren't going down that route right now, there would be a lot of value in just having an experienced head in there moving forwards so they can be proactive rather than reactive as this video clearly was. But at least this was slightly reassuring progress.

I think a massive problem with our support, certainly based on those around me, that there's a bunch of people who go because they love to shout abuse at the players. They're just waiting for a mistake so they can tell them they're shite. They'll get abuse if we do something as radical as keeping possession. Of course, I accept our current form is much worse that it's been in a very long time, but we can be third in the league and the atmosphere can still be pretty toxic. So by all means, do what you like, we're all paying customers, but I find a lot of it a bit weird.

Football management is strange. Kettlewell came in with a clear idea of how to play, a new formation and used the players we had in the right positions to get results to give us a comfortable end to the season. Then we started well this year, a tricky run of matches followed which you can forgive poor results, followed by form and tactics disappearing. What changed? We've lost at least two very important players and brought in many more of lower quality but there's more to it than that. I don't really want to see another manager go, and it's not that I love Kettlewell, it's just not sustainable to keep chopping and changing like this and hoping that's the solution. I'd really like us to have a manager that wants to be here and stays for years, but even two full seasons in charge seems unrealistic. The club is broken, Scottish football is broken and until so many other things change, it's just going to be more dross and musical chairs for short-term gains.

If this is true, I cannot believe that the match went ahead. The club has a responsibility to make sure the ground is a safe place. The potential for something really serious to happen with overcrowding cannot be overstated.

I'm sure it's just an illusion from the Cooper but it genuinely looked like there were more fans than seats in the McLean Stand. The aisles all full the whole match.

We lose to St Mirren every season. This is not in any way a shock. They're having a great spell with a good manager and they are a decent team for the level we're at. We're in one of our annual periods of transition. I don't think it's a losers' mentality. It was one day with one team, as it always is and we weren't hammered. Some Premiership teams didn't even make it out the group stages. It hurts but that's cup football. I think we're in a better position in terms of the team than we were a year ago and that's how we measure progress.

Ah, so that's why he's been signed.

The next two games are the difference between being in the mix for relegation at the end of the season, and having some meaningless games come the split. I'd much rather have the latter. We have to look aim at overhauling St Johnstone for 8th at the very least.

I really don't think Wright is the worst thing that could happen. It didn't work out at Killie but his record at St Johnstone was pretty incredible. I understand why people would be against him but if you're looking for an older, experienced manager with knowledge of the league and dealing with small budgets, then of course he would be on the list. He's certainly been relegated less than John Hughes.

I think anyone suggesting Jack Ross or Jim Goodwin is off their head. Two managers who this season have lost their respective dressing rooms. We need someone who will command respect and make an instant impact. Easier said than done, I know.

I don't remember seeing a team looking so devoid of ideas, structure, identity but most of all, fight.

It's good to see on here that Hammell is going wrong both by not changing the team and then tonight for changing the team.

I think the lack of movement is a huge factor in the fear of fans. Results are bad but if we knew there would be more options, players who might change games, I think it might at least give us something else to talk about.

They certainly used the squad anyway. That starting lineup gives me the fear though. Appreciate that it was a friendly and I'm not sure what I was expecting but we've had weeks to work on things and it just looks the same as before.

And he mentioned it in his Sportsound interview.