Imraan makes us a laughing stock (part 17)

For the third season running it would appear that our owner's skillfully constructed business plan for the season has somehow stalled before we all start Christmas shopping.  What's worse, even his most vociferous supporters kinda sensed this was coming.  Again.

It's clear that the players aren't doing the business, although withholding their wages, and suggesting they piss off, isn't likely to encourage them to perform better.  We've no idea what attendances Imraan was expecting, except to say, probably more than we are getting.  Everything at Non Park is turning to shit.  So, the million dollar question is, who's fault is this amateurish chaos?

Sorry, but step forward Imraan Ladak.

The expression about where the buck stops is decidedly accurate in this case.

• Who couldn't strike an equitable deal with the admittedly greedy shits of the Pickering clan?
• Who was it who dragged us down to Non Park, despite this money pit finishing off another club?
• Who has negotiated a rent with the man who destroyed the previous tenants?
• Who appointed Morrell?
• Who agreed all the new signings, and offered them the salaries they are now apparently not worth?
• Who instinctively believes everything football agents tells him?
• Who signs players on 2-year contracts based on a 2-minute Youtube show reel?
• Who insinuated at the Wicksteed carve-up that oodles of outside sponsorship was all but signed-up?

Most Poppies fans have given Imraan a lot of leeway during his tenure.  We were in Conference North, going nowhere when he came along (a bit like Corby, except with fans).  He has bankrolled a few good seasons.  He and his family have invested heavily in the playing staff (generally to the detriment of everything else at the club).  But let's not kid ourselves for one second that they have invested enough to be challenging for promotion.  They haven't gone all "Crawley".

Sad to say, but if we were offered the exact position we were in before Imraan and his less than stellar operation came along, most of us would gladly take it.  Most of us have generally see Imraan as a smart businessman who occasionally gets carried away in his football dealings, but it could be that we've all been wrong.  Perhaps he is a bit of an amateur who has got lucky enough times to carry the day.  Nothing about his running of the Poppies leads one to suspect hidden business acumen.  Just the ability to talk a good talk and the finance to almost back it up.

Unfortunately finance is what it's all about.  Imraan gets the benefit of doubt because he (hopefully) pays the bills.  But let's not forget, he CHOSE to become the Chairman, he CHOSE to shell out to make us full-time on part-time attendances.  He CHOSE Morell F***ing Maison to be his Manager! He CHOSE to drag us down to the banks of the Nene.  No one ever put a gun to his head and demanded he fund our footballing dreams.  He volunteered.

Poppynet is awash with people with axes to grind against Imraan. But you've got to ask yourself why are there so many of them, with seemingly more swelling their ranks daily?  Are they all clashes of personality?  Or is Imraan such a crummy boss that it is impossible to work for him for any length of time?  The opinions of several dozen players, a handful of office staff, and at least a couple of managers would seem to suggest this.  Does any former employee have even a remotely positive thing to say about him?  I've yet to hear it.

Will the club pull out from this latest self-inflicted nosedive?  Will Imraan ever answer his phone?  Is Cousins prepared to let another club go to the wall to keep him in readies?  Will Moses ever write anything on Twitter that doesn't make him look like a whiny 5-year old bully?  Will Non Park ever feel more than a rented, temporary facility?  Will the pitch ever get rolled or cut again?  Will all the players leave?  And, would we notice the difference?