Whatever happens in the final four games I think Brabin will be here next season. If we finish sixth or seventh you could make a case for that being a reasonable performance at this level, and after the previous two seasons I am sure that is how Palios will view things. However, as I have said previously, if you consider the financial advantage we have had this season, if Brabin could not make the play-offs this time what likelihood is there of us making the top five next season ? That is my concern. It is not as if we have a particularly young squad that is necessarily going to improve next year, and a lot of the old stagers like GTF and Higdon will no doubt be moving on in the summer.
It may seem a trivial point but Brabin does not help himself with his PR, which is generally terrible. Even yesterday, after such a shocking display in the second half, he had a little dig at the supporters in his post-match interview claiming that 'some of them have given up on us'. I am not sure what reaction he expects from the fans after such a pathetic display on what was an important and emotional day for the club, for many reasons. If he was more open, less defensive and did not hide behind so many excuses in his interviews, he might win more friends at the club.