So here we are, two weeks on from the banishment of P, S & L to Room 101, but where are we really? How far have we, as fans, travelled since the euphoria of 25th January, and what have we done? The latest defeat this week triggered another wave of depression, aggression and pessimism about the crowds, the club's future, the management, the players, the Trust, the need for investment, the potential investors. Certainly a long way from the happy days we dreamt of, but did we REALLY expect instant karma.

The loss of the three amigos removed the one avenue down which the fans could vent all their anger. Compassion for the players and the management has suddenly been replaced by calls for their heads. The camouflage is lifted; the realities exposed, but come on, such a shift in the direction of attack so quickly?

Sure, everyone wanted the arrival of Mel Nurse and his team to coincide with the immediate upturn in the fortunes of the club both on and off the field, but then everyone wants to win the lottery every week too, and we all know it doesn't happen that way. Everyone wanted to believe that we were safe, that all the troubles were packed away, and that all that lay ahead was watching football on Vetch Field, like we always have.

The consortium saved the club from almost certain extinction, of that there is no doubt, but that was the start of their fight for survival, not the end. Low crowds are making their job more difficult, as income generation from all sources is key to the club's survival. Fans pay good money to watch games, and as with every other commodity, are entitled to value for that money. Paying to watch a game isn't a charitable donation. However, football isn't like any other commodity is it? It drives passion, loyalty, emotion, and people will turn up week after week no matter how bad the team is playing, no matter how bad the results. The number of people who will do this however is the critical factor, and in Swansea we are talking probably 3,000. As has been mentioned on this site and others, this is far too low, and the responsibility that lies with these fans is heavy. Demands for donations to the club via programmes, flyers, burgers, beers, all land on the loyal 3,000. Verbal support for the team, and atmosphere during the games, all lands with these 3,000. What would happen if the crowd were doubled, what would the atmosphere be like, what would the turnstiles sound like, what would the cashflow look like. The answer is an obvious one, but will we get there?

Back in the mid eighties, when the club went through a similar financial mangle, the plea went out to Save Our Swans. It worked, and that appeal has been echoed in recent months. This time it needs to continue. The financial needs of the club have no end date. Major financial investment by owners into the club to ensure its stability, and development of facilities and infrastructure, is necessary, and will be welcomed by all, but a club needs to be self-financing on day-to-day affairs. The club have a responsibility in this in ensuring that remuneration packages are set at realistic levels, and that performances are such that they should attract higher gates. Fans also have a responsibility in attending matches in numbers to support the club's endeavours, and support and encourage the team.

The other plea of the eighties was for every fan to 'Bring a mate through the gate'. Whether it worked well back then, I would doubt, but why can't it work now. The impact would be tremendous, and provided the team do their bit on the pitch, why shouldn't the mate that everyone brings, continue coming?

There are no easy answers, but surely Mel Nurse deserves a bigger crowd than P, S & L used to enjoy. When they were at the club, every supporter rested their survival hopes on Mel Nurse and his consortium, they were always there in the background waiting to take over, waiting to reassure every fan that things would be OK, that they were doing their best to save this club, and in the end they did just that.

Do we now just sit back and let them get on with it, and make their job more difficult every time we decide we can't be bothered to go to the game? If we do not do our bit to keep this club alive we will only have ourselves to blame. There is no Mel Nurse in the background now, he's there, having played his part so far, and continuing with the work that needs to be done.

We need to continue with all our efforts too, via the Trust and by going to the games. Fundraising will be needed for a long time, and the wider we can spread the net, then the more successful it will be.

The club may have been saved, but do we know that it is any more than a stay of execution? No we don't, so why have we changed. Find that mate, double the gate, double the Trust membership, and the chances of long-term survival will become more a certainty.