Winter's World #8: Jeff Fights Back

Before setting off for Scotland, I had my usual scan of the message boards. At Darlington on the Darlo Uncovered site, there are still mixed emotions regarding Colin Todd.

On the Vital Hartlepool site, I read with interest some of the derogatory comments about me and the article that I write that appears on the site.

Criticism is something that I got used to as a referee, and when starting working in local radio, it was the same.

Initially, when joining Alpha Radio as an ex-referee and Boro supporter, I was an easy target for comments of an unsavoury nature.

Whilst obviously not being everyone`s cup of tea, the fans gradually started to appreciate that the publicity that I created for the club and its supporters was positive, as most areas of the media choose to ignore anyone other than the biggest clubs in the region.

Likewise, a good number of Poolies have stayed loyal to my shows and have contributed regularly.

Many who post on message boards have shown their immaturity by making childish comments but the remainder are loyal fans who merely give their opinions.

Well, I will continue to give mine. You may not like them but I have a programme on local radio that is there for Hartlepool fans to talk about their team.

Like my columns, you don`t have to read them so you can choose to turn off or not even bother to turn on.

However, this apathy does not help the local station in your area, which is trying to give air time to your team.

As usual, Hartlepool's press conference on Thursday was lively. Pools boss Chris Turner is a true football man and after the official stuff, he often talks about the events of the week, refs etc.

I wish at times the fans who knock him could see this side of the man whose enthusiasm and knowledge for the game is immense.

The news from the Darlo press conference was more interesting though. Colin Todd had declined to speak to the press and had nominated Steve Foster to do the honours.

Coincidence maybe, but perhaps adding fuel to the fire of speculation surrounding his future. I wish I had been there.

A busy weekend started with my regular breakfast slots on both Alpha and Radio Hartlepool, then it was off to Liverpool.

My first speaking event of the weekend was at the Holiday Inn in the city.

The Dinner was a fundraiser for Woolton FC, a set-up that runs 42 teams from kids as young as four years of age!!

I was the speaker with a Q&A session with Everton legend Neville Southall and comedy impressionist Mark Langley.

Rav and the boys in Liverpool do a great job raising funds for the kids and I am sure that their funds were pumped up considerably after this event.

My speaking engagements meant that I could take a game in on Saturday afternoon as I was due to be in Stoke in the evening.

As luck would have it, Boro were playing at Coventry, so for the second time this season, I made for the Ricoh Arena, hoping that this time I would not be mistaken for Graham Poll.

Having watched the Boro get trashed 5-0 by West Brom, you would imagine that matters could not get worse.

Well, at the end of the game, along with over 1,600 travelling Boro fans, I realised that they could.

2-0 up with a quarter of an hour to go, we declared, took off Adam Johnson and quite clearly thought that the points were in the bag.

Even their consolation goal did not bother me as I had backed 2-1 for the Great North Air Ambulance charity bet.

At least a daft couple of quid on Sean St. Ledger for the first goalscorer slightly eased the pain.

It was typical Boro and the late equaliser felt like defeat rather than a decent point on the road.

At least Hartlepool won at home at last and even Darlo picked up a point on the road. News was breaking though that Toddy had gone.

Emails were flying about and DFC announced a fairly amicable parting of company with Colin Todd. This did surprise me, especially when SSN announced that Todd had claimed via the LMA that he had been sacked.

As I suggested last week, a compensation claim is likely.

More news out of Darlington announced that Liddle and Maddo had been installed as temporary managers. What has happened to Dean Windass?

Putting it all into context, I called in on the way home to see my old mate Mark Halsey. A shaven head and considerable weight loss suggested that his cancer was taking its toll.

But Mark's a fighter and more than any other result this season, this is one that I am praying comes good.

Jeff Winter

For more of Jeff's columns visit his official site at jeffwinter.co.uk

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