Episode 1 Late Kick Off East

Will come to the Late Kick Off. It has all changed on the managerial

front, and some changes for us, as well. Cobblers in crisis, rock

bottom of the Football League. Special report on Northampton's

fight for survival. There is very hard to the bottom of the Football

League. And Paul Gill insists she will decide his own fate at Portman

Road. And who needs Graham Westley, as the boss moves on to pastures

new, it is business as usual for goal happy Stevenage. The land will

come to Late Kick-Off. Back on Monday nights from now through to

the end of the season. I am joined by Perry Groves. Essex boys. Don't

give me a lot of confidence! And a long side him, Lyon Mackenzie, who

has played for virtually every team in the league! Plenty of highs and

lows, as ever, but we're starting at the bottom and working our way

up. The League 2 table does not make good reading for Northampton

Town fans. The threat of dropping out of the Football League is all

too real. Northampton face a tough fight to avoid relegation as James

Burridge reports. In football, you win some, you lose some. Get kicked

out of the football began you lose a lot. Getting relegated is the

worst thing that can happen. �700,000 worse off. You go to

places you just don't want to go to. When it is going wrong it is

sometimes difficult to retrieve. Stick and say what Tristan spend?

At Northampton Town, they have done both. But the wheel is still

spinning. Over �7 million we have spent, to be bottom of the Football

League. We last season, Northampton down flirted with relegation. This

season they are having a full-blown affair with it. It is an absolute

disaster. You look at the teams that go down and have a comeback.

We could do the same. I have supported them for a long time and

they would take to see them go down after all this time. You can not

imagine what might happen if they were to get relegated, would they

come straight back up? It is tough, they would it was a lot of relegate

-- revenue. The future hangs heavy over a man who has endured a

miserable few years. Despite spending big, the chairman of

Northampton Town has been left counting the cost. We have put

350,000 more on the wage bill from the previous season on the basis

that we wanted to go up. We had a clean sheet to bring in 20 odd

players, to give it a real go. And we were bottom of the leak two

weeks ago, so yes. A overdue be affected if you were to go down?

a club? Typical to say. I suspect off. When we got relegated from

League 1, to League 2, they lost almost �800,000 of income, or one

night. He did that affect the club? We are still here, that is a

success, just surviving. But the difference is, to do that again,

where Rovers costs come from? That will be a difficult one. It is a

massive gamble, as a chairman, isn't it? You are throwing money at

something and you do not know if you're going to get any return.

is up impossible job, financially, to get it right. Of course it does.

Clubs in League to receive �430,000 from the Football League and

relegated clubs get half of the summer but only for one season and

lose �180,000 per season towards youth development programmes. The

payments will last two seasons. Cambridge United Darren the 6th

season in the Blue Square premier. They have but been forced to cut

their cloth accordingly. We were in despair. It came as a culture shock

to us but there are so many League clubs in this position and

invariably, one or other has a rich benefactor that helps them get out.

But the standard of this league now is phenomenal. So many clubs are in

a situation of unique survival at this stage. On days of 2500, you

can get some good friends of mine due and it is about getting through

this period. Survival first, promotion second? Yes, if we make

the play-offs, it exceeds expectations for this year, bearing

in mind our budget. After the first sort of season I think we struggled.

We have seen bigger league clubs were down but because they are

financial basket cases. It is a smaller clubs that are going up. We

have saw that, but they don't have the money. This is the reality of

life in the Conference. Cambridge United against them so would have

been a Football League fixture, but now these are two sides and their

smaller crowds are learning how to do it the hard way. Coming out of

this division is very tough. And it takes a lot of expense. In League 2

we had something like 44 players, that was throwing money at that,

and it did not work. Deja remember the first few weeks and a

conference? It was a horrible feeling. The impact is huge on the

community. That is what brings the pressure. If it was all about a

football game there is always winners and losers but when it

comes to relegation to the Blue Square Bet Premier, your side in

your town affecting your community, it is massive. The Championship was

not necessarily ruled out, thumped and down a couple of seasons ago,

and money has been thrown at this club, and all it has got them is to

the foot of League 2. How much has it cost usage you have been running

this place? We have spent over �7 million now, to the bottom of the

Football League. 7 million. That is a huge amount of money. Yes, not

just to be in League 2, but bottom of League 2. It is your heart still

in it? It is, it has had a battering in the last year, but we

are here, and we will keep going. If I knew what I know now when I

first came here, we would be in the Championship now, I am pretty sure

of that. Some people say you should try to safeguard your status in

League 2, or to get promotion, you have to spend money. That is not

true. I have done both. chairman said he has put 7 million

Townson to the football club. It is a lot of money. If it was not for

him there would not be a football club. I don't call it the

Conference, I call it the vision to be, because if you look at it now

there are 11 teams that have been in the Football League and 16 of

them are full-time, so it is not easy to get back up again. They is

important that the chairman stays there, he has been a big part of

the football club for the last decade. He said there, he is harder

still in it. He has got that passion for the club. As long as

his heart is still in it they can turn it around. He said if he knew

then what he does now he would be in the Championship, and you have

to get the right managers, so he has had Gary Johnson, Aidy

Boothroyd is there, he is bottom, but Aidy Boothroyd will get the

more organised, structured, and fitcorner. You were there on the

Gary Johnson and he did not see eye to eye with him. A unfortunately

not. Sometimes the manager comes in and you do not see eye-to-eye. I

was top goalscorer that the time. It was important for me to play. I

did not play in a situation but my argument to him was at the end of

the season, I said you have got strikers here that have played over

40 games and not got into double figures. I got into double figures

and played 17 games. It depends how the manager wants to analyse things.

And one man can define your position, which is a shame. We have

seen clubs going down and not coming back. It is not easy to get

back into the Football League when she fall-out. You lose have the

money, you get half the money for two seasons, so you need a

benefactor. He said he has done that and it does not work, either.

Aidy Boothroyd is experienced and will give youngsters some chances.

Penises experienced players to take the pressure of the youngsters.

This was a good start. Yes, John Johnson puts them 1-0 up. That

should give them confidence for the rest of the game. Looking for their

first victory in 15 matches and that is going to give them

confidence. And it did, and the first half. Some dodgy defending a,

and that was a decent finish, and then, to be fair, they got

themselves back in front again. have watched them a few times and

there are a lot of defending errors. This is a good finish. I like him.

When I go to watch him play, he works hard, he walks the Charles

really well. When things are going against you, I don't think that is

a penalty kick in a million years. He just collides with the consent.

Dickinson gets there first. When you are at the top of the league,

you get those decisions. Of this goal goes in it is 2-2, just after

half-time. And it is difficult, then, isn't it? When you are in are

losing luck, your confidence starts to Road. And you have a lot of bad

luck. The decent free kick from Jacobs, good save from Morris. And

then, another great free kick, more us with no chance, goes inside a

post and comes out. Another chance, just wide. When things are going

against you you need one of these two Going for you. Like that one.

That was a little more that pops up when you hope that that is going

towards the goal and that is the way things are running for

Northampton at the moment. 10 hours to go, so it then scored three

goals. Yes, it was a good cross. And the substitute who had just

come on. Windsor event gets in a position to bring the game back to

2-2, they are going to go on to win the game because of the position

they are in the league. -- when Southend gets in a position. Do you

think he is the right man to take Northampton forward, they Aidy

Boothroyd? I know him quite well. He is an organised manager. He gets

the best out of his players. I personally think he has to bring a

couple in, but this is the question. David said he spent �7 million. And

they are at the bottom of League 2. That 5 to win a means the Shrimpers

are at the top of League Two with a great chance of going straight back

up. Shrews be around beaten at home. Two will be a tough one for them.

Yes it is tough. I hope they get their confidence. Southend Borough

fantastic side. I know some of the players there and it is a good side.

De you think they can go up? think they can. They are the best

in the away wins. They are organised and structured with good

team spirit. They are difficult to beat. They can score a couple.

you are fighting for vast top spot, you need that in your squad. You

need to be able to bring on players that can score goals. You move the

squad about and everybody is happy. It seems to be a good and tight

unit. Next League One and the leak -- MK Dons chairman confirmed they

would be funding tickets and travel for Carlisle fans on the back of a

postponement. Hugely embarrassed. We have tried to do something about

it. We have announced that we will refund all the Carlisle fans their

tickets and we will give them a free ticket. We will enable them to

bring a friend to the game and we will put on two coaches from

Carlisle so hopefully we are making a real effort to try and make sure

that the Carlisle fans that can get to the game will be able to be

there. For our own supporters as well who had a miserable day and

made an unnecessary visit, we are going to have bring a friend for

free so why hope we can get some positive out of what was one of the

darkest days for us. A bit embarrassed there. It is a great

gesture is and it to pay for travel and tickets. He will have been

absolutely devastated because MK Dons is his baby and his vision. I

knew full well he would give two free tickets to Carlisle fans and

he gave them free meals at the game and he will pay for travel so you

can ask for any more than that. It was a long trip for the Carlisle

fans so it was not an ideal team to be playing. This is what it was

like just two hours before the game on Saturday. It was just a small

patch of grass. Sunshine and everybody thought the game would go

ahead but that small area of ground was the problem. The groundsman was

the lowest man in the world. He thought he should have put the

covers on. Because Carlisle had travelled so far they knew why even

more desperate to get the game on. 520 round trip for them. 520 mile

round trip for them. The pitch has been awful. You have to call the

picture of. It does not look as though there is a lot wrong with it,

just a small patch. What the officials were thinking at that

time... The food is better than at motorway service food on your way

home at least. They had some good cuisine. A great gesture. They have

a big game tomorrow. They drew in the FA Cup against Queens Park

Rangers at home. Do you fancy their chances?. I do. They did really

well and got on one all drawers were would not write them off.

Surprise package in League One has to be Stevenage. Back-to-back

promotions. Perhaps no surprise that he Wesley would be poached.

His move to Preston was confirmed. There has been a lot of tears this

week. They have won a lot of medals for themselves and the football

club. It has been difficult. They did nothing to miss him though. A

massive win. The Nick Freeman show. He put them one per zero up. -- 1-

nil. -- 1-0. They went 2-0 up. It was of the far post. He has

instilled a lot in to them as a team. They are very strong.

Everybody knows what they are doing and that is important. One defeat

in 16 games. It is a terrific record. The Stevenage fans were out

last night and they contacted us. We asked if Graham Westley would be

poaching players. There is a deal that they cannot do that -- he

cannot do that until the end of the season. The chairman has done a

brilliant job making sure that he cannot do that. Are you surprised

he has gone to Preston? No, they are a bigger club with a bigger fan

base. But Darren Ferguson went from Peterborough and then a few months

later he came back. It is an opportunity for Graham to go there

to a bigger club. I feel that... We will have to see in due course how

he does. It does not necessarily mean he will do the same job that

he did in Stevenage. They are a different team. It does not always

work that way when he tried... He is a nine-to-five man. At Preston

date -- they train two or three times a day. He instilled a to his

players. It is hard work. What is next for Stevenage? Who was linked

with the job? If Martin takes the job, he will have to be careful not

to change too much. They are very successful and they are used to the

routines. If I was Martin I would have somebody who was number two

who would know all about Stevenage Football Club there was already

there. He needs someone who knows the strengths and weaknesses.

us have a look at the top of the table. MK Dons are in 5th position.

Stevenage are in thick. Colchester are just propping up the top of the

one. That is your old club, Perry. A disappointing season for them.

Yes, they need a goalscorer. In the game on Saturday gave Scunthorpe

they had 16 shops on target and they could not score a goal. --

shops. It was a decent finish. Scunthorpe went 1-0 up. What do you

think generally for Colchester this season? Mid-table do you think they

can have a push for the play-offs? I think they are about right in the

mid- table. I would say definitely. There have been some bad results

against teams in our region. They lost 6-12 Stevenage. Steven

Gillespie picks himself up and then get the penalty quite comfortably.

Scunthorpe's goalkeeper made some fantastic get saves. But you need a

goalkeeper. -- a goalscorer. What can Colchester fans expect? Will

they go into the transfer market? Possibly but you have got to really

concentrate on being in a comfortable position. If you push

now you will have to spend some money and they need a goalscorer,

somebody who gets bits. Peterborough have had a good season

so far. It was disappointing at the weekend. They missed some chances.

They have a good little squad. The actual sport in itself is good. It

will be an interesting game against Brighton. As a squad they are

confident. Little did brilliantly. It broke to Daniel Kearns. That is

a foul. Anywhere on the pitch that is a penalty. A thing they had a

rocky referee and he did not give them a lot of joy. Daniel Ferguson

has been annoyed about not being given that. There has been contact.

Are Peterborough punching above their weight? They look like they

have learned from the last time they were in the championship

because they were in experienced. They have a decent the goal scorer

and her a lot of younger players. They will be all right in the

championship. I think there will be OK. What a job Darren Ferguson has

done after returning from Preston? He has come back and he is really

enjoying it again. It is like remarrying your ex-wife. They are

very strong characters and they have realised they are better as a

unit and working apart. Barry is the director of football with a bit

of experience. It is invaluable. can go one way or the other. He has

been very fortunate to come back. It doesn't always work. I would not

like to go back to my ex-wife! might want you back! Like I say, it

does not always work. Talking about exes, my ex club Ipswich have had a

funny season. They have thrown away another two-goal lead. Yes, when

they concede, they started off really well with a good play from

Lee Martin. They were under pressure from Jason Scotland and it

might have been OK. It is no secret that the problems are at the back.

There is useless defence. They have got to strengthen. When you're in

that league, you have to strengthen at the back. It is a unit. That is

where it comes from. They made a bid for Shaw said Leger but it has

not quite gone through. He is in the market for a new centre-half.

They need an experienced new centre-half to galvanise everybody.

Those are nice clubs by the way! is a right midfielder play at the

right back. Kevin Phillips had a decent finish. He is good for back.

The players positioning have a lot to do with it. You can see

Northampton missing a lot of chances. What about that one?

were walkabout for Blackpool's second goal. He was looking at the

goalkeeper and try to give him the If Tears ended up tackling himself.

It is one of those where you think, I have scored here and he took his

eye off the ball. That is exactly what he has done. To be honest,

that should have been a goal. should have been a win that,

absolutely. There was a vote of confidence today. What is the

situation at Portman Road? I had a fair crack of the whip and that is

what I am getting. It didn't workout. That is reasonable. Then

they will have to sack me. I have drive and determination to get this

job right. It is great when you know you have an owner who is 100%

behind you. We both want the same thing. Ipswich fans, do you think

Paul Jewell is still the right man? Who would love to hear from you.

What do you think of the job that Paul Jewell is doing? It all

depends on results. We are in India in to it and he has been in charge

of 51 games and they have conceded 95 goals. He needs a centre-half

and to get in so structured. Ipswich fans would rather they

played young players. Williams played and they give it energy.

They have a good desire where as the older players have nothing to

54. Contractually we cannot show any Norwich action because they are

in the Premier League. That is one of your form of the teams and they

are going pretty well. Fantastic. I have watched them a few times this

season. He has got it right, the manager there. He is doing really

well. Everything he seems to do seems to pay off. The positioning

of the players... What about Leon McKenzie? It is great to have you

with us today. You have had difficult times. It is fabulous

that you are here and are able to talk about it. Yes, it is something

I went through a few years ago. I was passionate to bring it forward

and be open and show everybody the problems that I went through two

basic to make the situation of depression more aware. To get the

PFA to be more supportive in respect of Dom Mark Pugh have they

been helpful? Not so much back then but since my article in the Daily

Mail and with Dean Windass speaking. It is a brave thing to do. When you

go through those situations it is a brave thing to come forward and

speak publicly. How public the -- how important the think it is to

get the message out publicly? Is more widespread than people think.

It is a massive step forward. When you speak publicly about such

personal stuff, for me it was getting the awareness about

depression and getting it out there so there is more support within the

area. That is the main thing. Better times ahead for you? Your

music career about to take off. This is what I mean. I am living

testimony. The place that I was apt to the place I am now, if I look

back now I would have never thought I could have brought out a single.

I have a single coming out on Friday, it is hitting the radio

stations on Friday. The it will be released on iTunes on 19th March.