Darragh MacAnthony's (Posh Chairman) 2015 New Year message.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Dear Posh Fans,

I wanted to take this opportunity to pass my thoughts on to you all and thank you for your loyalty and support in what has indeed been a patchy period for the football club form wise during 2014.

The year saw us return to Wembley and take home some silverware, it saw us finish 6th and exit the play-offs far earlier than we anticipated. It then saw us having to undergo a minor rebuild during the summer with many players departing and the arrival of Alnwick, Smith, Burgess, Maddison, Oztumer, Taylor, Beautyman & Luke James to name but a few.

Patience was a key word used by me in the summer as we went about rebuilding a squad that we felt would in time grow into an exciting young unit full of pace, endeavour and goals that would, as time went by, become a Posh side that would bring us a prolonged period of success.

2014 saw us top the league early on, but at the same time it has seen us suffer a catastrophic run of injuries/illnesses to 90% of our playing squad from August through to December, only allowing us to play the same eleven for one and a half games thus far in the current campaign, which though not an excuse for our unacceptable run of form, it has not helped our cause nor our aspirations to mount a serious promotion challenge.

2014 has seen a new stand open at London Road, record breaking commercial deals in place thanks to new sponsorship deals and has seen a transformation in our training facilities, which are now on a par with many top Championship club's.

2014 has seen our youth set up under Dave Robertson go from strength to strength, which will see many more youth team players progress through into the first team squad. 2014 has also seen a serious amount of discontent amongst our own supporters, has seen a change in attitude towards our football management team from the terraces and many calls for a change. The harsh reality and facts in football is that you very often are only as good as your last few results and history never really allows you to rest on your laurels. The other harsh reality is that regardless of injuries and certain circumstances, the management team will be the first to admit that results recently and overall in 2014 start to finish have been way under the standard expected by myself and the supporters not to mention the standard of football at times particularly at home has indeed fallen way short of what we all come to expect.

Statistics show that we finished 2014 with a losing percentage as opposed to a winning percentage and that doesn’t and never will sit well with me. The players will also be the first to admit the past year and indeed the last 10 games haven’t been their finest as they set their own standards and our Captain Jack Payne and his team mates now have a new year and 23 league games to put many wrongs right on the football field.

Our management team are a hard working bunch who only want what's best for the football club and our squad of young players are no different and nobody could question their loyalty, work ethic or commitment. Changing the manager of the football club is actually a really easy decision to make as shown by the majority of clubs who do it, but contrary to what some supporters think, financial aspect of it never comes into play for me as I must always do what's best for the long term health of the football club. This isn’t some form of vote of confidence in Darren Ferguson from me, he gets consistently all the support he needs from me on a daily basis, this is your Chairman giving his thoughts on 2014 as a whole.

I met with the management team and playing squad today (New Years Eve) and very simply reiterated what I and our supporters want to see in 2015; which is a healthy energetic, high pressing style of football with plenty of goals that sees a consistent run of results that give us a chance to win promotion from League 1 this season. They all appreciate that January is now a key month results wise and that by the end of January we as a club need to be back in the promotion race one way or another and putting a smile back on the faces of our wonderful supporters.

I will be taking the squad and the management team to Marbella this Sunday for five days for a training camp where they can train intensively in good weather as opposed to here in the UK, get their mindsets right and come back hopefully fully invigorated for the promotion challenge our club seeks over the final 23 games of the season.

I hope to see thousands of you at the ABAX Stadium for our next home fixture, but for now let me take this opportunity to wish you all a prosperous, healthy and successful New Year in 2015. Thank you for the continued support as it's what drives me on every day to better our football club.

Keep It Posh

theposh.com/news

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

And Panthers version:

I simply can't understand why so many speedway supporters and especially the keyboard Internet warriors, appear to be so negative about our sport and our clubs. Apparently our loss against Lakeside was as the result of " a rubbish track". Our win against ipswich was also as the result of " a rubbish track. I'm staggered by the number of track experts we currently have following our club. In reality, most of these so called 'track experts' have never set foot on a track. I am inclined to believe that ourtrack curator, former Panthers and England captain Richard Greer, knows so lightly more than the 'track experts', he certainly knows more than me. Preparing a track for racing is not easy. It is not a ten minute job. It usually takes all day he and some days we cannot spend as long as we like on the track due to other events happening at the Showground. Much has to be taken into consideration, not least the seven differing opinions of our riders on how the track should be prepared. The weather is a key factor. Will it rain? Well if the majority of us don't know the answer to that, then it is as sure as hell, that Richard Greer and his team won't. We also have the additional problem and of the tools that we are working with. Many of them are tired or just not up to the rigours of modern day he track preparation, in short, this area of the club has been neglected for almost a decade. But, we are addressing it. We have just purchased a fantastic piece of kit that will help in our preparation of the track before, during and after the meeting. We have had to order it from Denmark (well the best things seem to come from Denmark after all) and at considerable cost; I hope that the new piece of kit will be making its debut today. How disheartening it must be for Richard and his team to read the Internet warriors telling him that his track is rubbish, not only if we lose, but also now, even if we win. It's easy to tell him when hiding behind keyboard but I have yet to see many takers wanting to tell him to his face. But it's not just the track. It's every aspect of our sport. Always negative from the keyboard warriors. Never positive, never constructive criticism. I once gave them the opportunity to provide me with suggestions on how the sport can be improved. You know what? I never got one sensible reply. It seems to be a trait on the Internet; it's fashionable almost to be negative. I actually think that if people want negative there won't be much to read, to be honest. Tonight we welcome Matt Ford, Middlo and the riders and supporters from Poole Pirates who have made the long trip from Dorset. Not only are the Pirates the reigning Elite League champions, they are in my opinion the business model for other clubs to emulate. We also welcome back to the Showground to make his seasonal debut, Karol Zabik. For the negative Internet warriors, I should point out that Karol will be lining up for the Panthers and not the Pirates tonight. Let's give Karol a big welcome; he has had a tough time recently in his homeland. As a 23 year old, he has had a lot to deal with. Welcome back Karol.

Bratters Panthers programme introduction April 16 2009.

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Top Talk - The Frost Report

I read Mick Bratley's article in last week's programme and in general I agree with him reference " keyboard warriors". I look at our website regularly and whilst I understand that this is a useful and easy media for you to exchange news and views and is also meant meant to be fun, I would certainly like to see some serious feedback from you all as well. For instance it would be a great help to me and my management team if you could let us know your ideas or views on what we can do to improve your club. What you do and don't like etc. We are here to turn this into a great speedway club for all of you and this is one way to get your voice heard and your opinions expressed. Likewise concentrate your thoughts and comments on the positive rather than negative regarding the our team - win or lose. Negative words, actions and thoughts will always end with negative results. Whilst we have not had a good start to the season, not helped by injury and absence, we are coming through that and things are on the up we have seen tremendous individual performances from many of our riders through this difficult time and team spirit is high. Not once have they complained even though they well knew the task that they faced with a weakened team was a huge burden to carry. We have recently been boosted by the welcome return of Karol Zabik and shortly Claus Vissing will be back as well. Then you will see some results! So please give them your full support at all times, whether it's here at the Showground, on our website, wherever you are. Talking about Karol Zabik, you will all be pleased to know that he is now a full asset of the club. Karol is an exciting rider to watch; you never know where he is coming from or what he will try next. He seems to find gaps, or ways past other riders, that don't appear to be there. His ability and commitment is there for all to see and he is only 22 years of age; he's a further potential is immeasurable as he continues his career. His loyalty to the club and his team mates is 100 per cent, which is so important in what is after all a team sport. As most of you probably know already, I will not entertain riders at Peterborough who are not fully committed to the club and their team mates. One of the most important things at the club is track preparation. We must be able to prepare a track that is both a consistent and as our riders want it to gain maximum home advantage. To this end we have started to replace and update the equipment which I inherited when I brought the club, which was in poor condition and badly in need of servicing or replacement. We are expecting delivery of a new grading blade from Denmark that will ensure the easy and precise movement of material from/to wherever it is needed and can also act as a scarifier at the same time. The Wonder Wheel has been refurbished and another bar grader and new chain harrows added to our equipment inventory. All we needed then was the right man in charge of this work and of course we have that person in the shape of Richard Greer. A Peterborough legend himself he'll know and understand just what the riders want or ask of him and now he will have the equipment to do it. That's all for now so let's look forward to welcoming.......... And wish all the riders a safe evening's racing.

Panthers programme introduction 27/4/09

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Darragh MacAnthony ‏@dmac102

Many of you will have now seen my statement on posh.com . Wishing you all a fantastic 2015.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

That's gonna be some turnaround in 4 weeks. Ferguson has presided over 52 weeks of dross so whether 5 days in Marbella can suddenly produce a healthy energetic, high pressing style of football with plenty of goals is somewhat doubtful as we traditionally play slowly and sideways in our own half?

[Deleted]

Jan 2, 2015 22:37:59 GMT Milo (not Mylo!!) said:

That's gonna be some turnaround in 4 weeks. Ferguson has presided over 52 weeks of dross so whether 5 days in Marbella can suddenly produce a healthy energetic, high pressing style of football with plenty of goals is somewhat doubtful as we traditionally play slowly and sideways in our own half?

Roll on Saturday!

[Deleted]

DMAC = Class

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Jan 5, 2015 6:50:04 GMT @lukesignwriter said:

Jan 2, 2015 22:37:59 GMT Milo (not Mylo!!) said:

That's gonna be some turnaround in 4 weeks. Ferguson has presided over 52 weeks of dross so whether 5 days in Marbella can suddenly produce a healthy energetic, high pressing style of football with plenty of goals is somewhat doubtful as we traditionally play slowly and sideways in our own half?

Roll on Saturday!

I expect a reaction of some sort before the Ferguson confusion returns and Posh finish out of the play-off zone.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Jan 5, 2015 20:12:27 GMT @champs2006 said:

DMAC = Class

Impossible not to like the bloke.