What an opportunity. Asked to write a regular column gives me a chance to express my views in more detail than the one-off sentences on the messageboard. It has been said that I have some controversial opinions. Not really. I find I need to comment in a critical or constructive way quickly to express how I feel and generate a reaction and sometimes a short sharp comment can be regarded as being over the top. That is the nature of messageboards. Now, if I make a critical comment, I can try and explain in more detail why I feel that way.

What to talk about – the gullibility of most Halifax Town fans, the long suffering fans, the mis-manangement of our club, the HTST and supporters club, the team. Those will come later but I thought I would start with what being a Halifax Town fan means to me.

Saturday’s home matches to me are the highlight of my week. I make a day of it. Meet up with my brother early (9.30am) for breakfast, followed by thrashing him regularly at snooker. A few pints, a bet then off to meet other friends before going to the match. Maybe a pint afterwards, tea at mother-in-laws, fall asleep and then home or out again.

The bit that has spoiled my great Saturday over the past couple of seasons is the time between 3pm and 5.45pm. Watching the performance of our players has been heartbreaking, listening to the continual financial demise has been concerning and reading the idiotic comments of some supporter’s surprising.

I go to most ‘local’ away matches. Hartlepool, Carlisle, Lincoln, Mansfield etc. about that distance. Again trying to make a day of it.

Halifax Town in the Conference will not affect my support for them. To be honest, the Conference winning year was the best time I had. Because we were winning. My only concern at the moment is that with the current set-up will we continue to slide towards eventual oblivion.

More of that later – except for one small point. Mistakes have been made at the club that can be regarded as unforgivable. During the season, most fans have continued to argue that change is unnecessary and the best is being done. It was only when the reality of the situation arose – relegation and administration – that many fans woke up and realised they had been had. The Board also woke up and had to take drastic action. All too late.

Big changes are happening at the Shay and for those of us who have been screaming for changes to occur for a long time, we can only hope that we are rewarded with some measure of success. Assuming of course that the right changes are made.

Whatever happens though, I will continue to let the match spoil my day as I am stuck with being a Halifax Town fan through thick and thin.

Martensite.