May I take this opportunity, as our team sit at the head of League 1, to wish each and everyone of our supporters, a "VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR"
The season started rather disappointingly and despite playing some excellent football our points tally after 7 games was only 6. However following the defeat away at Oldham we embarked on a 6 match unbeaten run, of 5 wins and one draw, culminating in that memorable televised game away at Nottingham Forest which we won 4-0. A defeat at home to Brighton followed but we were unfortunate to lose Steve Foster for an alleged violent tackle, after only 10 minutes of the game. The game developed into more of a brawl and was a very disappointing end to our unbeaten run which had accumulated 16 points in 6 games. Two wins and a draw followed before Brian Laws accepted the position of Manager at Sheffield Wednesday and took Russ Wilcox along with him.
Of course I was extremely disappointed to lose both Brian and Russ. Brian had been with the club, both as player and Manager for almost 10 years and most of that time was as Manager. Throughout Brian's tenure we had enjoyed many successes, notably the Play-Off Final win at Wembley in 1999 and promotion to League 1 in 2004/5 plus a memorable day at StamfordBridge in our promotion season and an excellent performance away at ManchesterCity this time last year. It is a strange coincidence that Sheffield Wednesday host ManchesterCity at Hillsborough in the 3rd Round this year. In 9 years Brian was able to take Scunthorpe United to the 3rd round of the FA Cup on no less than 8 occasions.
On the departure of Brian and Russ, Nigel Adkins became temporary Manager, assisted by Andy Crosby, Ian Baraclough and Tony Daws. It was remarkable how they kept the team together and continued the amazing run of form taking 19 points from the final 8 games of 2006. Nigel was confirmed as the Manager on the 7th of December with the continuing support of Andy, Ian and Tony.
We began the year at the top of the league and the draw away at Port Vale on the 1st of January saw us pull a point clear of Forest and Oldham.
There is much speculation about the future of some of our players and it is inevitable that we will lose some of them as they have the ability to play at the highest level. However, mid season is not, in my opinion, the time to sell and we will do all we can to keep this team together, as we strengthen our resolve for promotion to the Championship League.
It will be a difficult second half to the season, but with a lot of hard work, a bit of good fortune and the full support of our fans, I am confident we can achieve what at the start of the season was the near impossible.
Plans for a redevelopment of the Doncaster Road end should be available for discussion in the very near future and our new training pitches at Gunness will commence as soon as the weather allows. All in all we have much to look forward to in 2007.
"UP THE IRON"
Steve Wharton
Chairman
