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30 april 2002
A mad couple of weeks.

A mad couple of weeks. That’s a phrase that springs to mind concerning events of late! Preston, Wimbledon, Terry Burton, Lionel and to cap it all a speeding ticket!

I'll go in order and talk about my time at Preston first. As you'll all know we just missed out at Deepdale and finished 8th, it's been really strange being on loan, especially when it ended, I just left and that was it. I didn't know if it was goodbye for good or whether I'll be returning in pre-season.

The game that cost us ultimately was Palace away at Selhurst, we could have won the game in 15 mins but unfortunately paid the penalty for missing chances. We went into the last game against Forest knowing that we had to win and rely on Norwich and Burnley both losing, it was never going to be easy especially with the former playing bottom of the league Stockport at home. But we did our bit and finished the season with a good win coming from behind. I was pleased with my time at Preston, featuring in all five games, setting a couple of goals up and scoring in the demolition of Coventry where I got the man of the match award as well as 4 more stitches in the old bonce. I still need a good pre-season inside me, where I get that pre-season is still up in the air. Preston hopefully will be one of the teams looking at me for next season but they have appointed a new manager and things can change quickly in football. The lads up there were great and I felt really welcome. I even got a spot of fishing in with Paul McKenna and Ryan Kidd, and a couple of nights out with most of the other lads. Graham Alexander really impressed me up there and was over the moon to receive his first international cap with Scotland, a great defender. Personally I thought Kelham O'Hanlan did a great job with some fantastic results, I wish him all the very best.

Wimbledon now and I kept close tabs on goings on down here whilst at Deepdale talking to quite a few of the boys regularly. I was absolutely gutted for Lionel when I heard the news about his cruciate ligament injury. He is seeing the same guy who did Damian Francis' operation and is over in Austria as we speak. Let's all hope he can be back as quick and strong as Damian was, he's still very young and has time on his side. I still think he'll go all the way. Lionel’s injury and a couple of others however did open up opportunities in the team for some debuts against Barnsley, and by all accounts young Mikele did really well, another star in the making. Unfortunately we lost the game but had opportunities with young Adam Nowland missing a pen. He's a strong lad mentally and I'm sure he'll be ready to step up again if need be. Barnsley are a strong side anyhow and I believe will be there or thereabouts in the 2nd division next year.

I've been at the training ground this week doing little bits of fitness work and making sure I'm in tiptop condition for next season. Also knocking about this week were the two Irish boys hoping to be on the plane to Japan. Kenny is doing plenty of strengthening work and D.C is doing light runs and some finishing, I hope they both get their rewards and play in the world cup this year. Andy Roberts, Paul Heald, Jermaine, Blackers and Willo have also been in most of them with minor knocks but Andy and Paul are recovering from minor knee ops. Hopefully they'll both be fine for next season as they both, like me, might have to find other clubs.

Now to the big news of the week that Terry Burton was sacked on Thursday. I saw Terry at the start of the week and we had a chat about how things had gone at Preston. He mentioned next season briefly and said he wanted me to join in the training planned in May (3 days a week because there is such a long lay off this year) and things were looking quite good. But then I came in on Thursday and heard rumours that Terry had cleared his office out. The rumours were later confirmed when I heard that Terry had been released from his contract and Wimbledon no longer had a manager. I was gutted for him as he has had a tough year in charge, big financial problems, lots of injuries to contend with, the departure of his number two and an illness that required a stay in hospital and operation. You could say he's been up against it all year, but we still finished well and only just missed out on the playoffs. I'm sure he will re-emerge somewhere and wish him all the very best in everything, a man of his calibre will not be out the game long.

It’s going to be a summer of uncertainty, rumours and departures. Hope there’s time for some fishing and music.

Thanks for the support in what may be my final year here, but.... you never know!!

Gareth.