Memecon: If we are to go up, do you expect any outgoings from our current starting eleven? There has been strong interest in Street, for example.
It is interesting because the way we operate as a club probably means we would give most of the current squad the chance to step up into the Championship. We have signed players on long contracts because we believe in them and see them as Championship players.
Take someone like Rob Street. If we weren’t promoted, where would we be looking to sell him to? The Championship. The same applies to players like Valfolomeev, Tom Hamer and others we have signed with progression in mind. Players like Josh Honohan and Deji Elerewe were signed with development in mind as well. If we’re in the Championship, these players are ones we think are capable of playing there.
In terms of players moving on, it might be more likely that fringe players leave. Players like Erik Ring, JJ McKiernan and possibly one or two others around the squad. Maybe James Collins, if he returns to fitness, as he might not quite be Championship level after his injury. You never know, though.
But I do not think we would be looking to move on the bigger names because we signed them with the intention of them becoming Championship players.
Red Wimp: Do you think we will need to upgrade the dugouts and bring in some of those fancy racing car type chairs?
It is actually a serious question because if we move into the Championship, there are bigger backroom teams and more substitutes. In League One, you can name seven subs, but in the Championship, it goes up to nine, so the benches need to be bigger.
When you consider the number of staff on the bench as well, including the coaching staff and medical staff, you are suddenly talking about a lot more people who need space. So yes, there is every chance facilities like the dugouts might need upgrading.
More broadly, the club would probably look at a number of facilities around the ground and ask whether they are Championship-ready. That includes media facilities and general infrastructure. Ron Fowler is very focused on the overall experience, and my guess is that it is not just for fans but for staff, players and visiting teams as well. So I would expect some upgrades if we go up.
Scunny Imp: Do you think we get to 100 points? & Bish: Do we remain unbeaten until the end of the season?
We are currently on 84 points, so we would need 16 points from the last seven games. That means dropping only five points. There are some tough games left, Stevenage, Reading and Wycombe are fighting for the playoffs.
You would expect us to beat (or be able to beat) Wimbledon, Leyton Orient, Doncaster and Port Vale, which would be 12 points. Then we would need points from the other games like Reading away.
Do I think we will get to 100 points? Probably not. Do I think we could get close to the 99 points from the National League season? Possibly. It will depend on how the team reacts once promotion is secured. Danny Cowley’s teams often struggled after promotion was confirmed, so it will be interesting to see how this team handles that period.
As for whether we remain unbeaten until the end of the season, I am not sure. I was not convinced we would stay unbeaten this long, so it depends on motivation and application. If the title is wrapped up and we still have big games left, it might be difficult to maintain the same intensity.
There are a lot of factors at this stage of the season. Once the main objective is achieved, it can be difficult to maintain the same edge, so it will depend on the mentality of the players and staff.
As to whether we keep going with the same intensity after promotion is concerned, the to million pounds prize money for being the Champions would surely be an incentive. Particularly if the players were given a small share of it too.