Away days Every game is practically an away game for me these days but the next two will be even more so as on Saturday I'll hopefully be up a mountain in Utah hopping over moguls and then on Tuesday we will be somewhere back en route from Salt Lake City to Bermuda via Chicago and New York.

Following Charlton has been like skiing downhill recently, and skiing like me and not Franz Klammer. However today I feel slightly more assured about the black run ahead of us. Parky has in just over a week shown to be his own man, and although I do not have a good feeling about the loan situation, the trio of Burton, McEveley and particularly Gillespie have initially at least appeared to have added to the squad and not taken away.

The loan system and the way we have employed it is a bit of a joke though. Personally if we are going to be shit, then I'd rather it be our own shit and albeit as an expatriated supporter but from someone who takes an overly close interest, I have great trouble recognising our club at the moment.

Despite all of that and the what the table says, I'm leaning towards sticking with Parky in the interim with Kinsella in a more pronounced role. As others have said I believe the board had this in mind as a succession plan anyway, and so far he has taken to the job ably and gets my support to see us through until Christmas. Each of the next five games offer opportunities as does a snowy mountain top, it is just good navigation, braveness and a fair chunk of luck that we need.  ¶ 08:18