Roar power (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Roar power

Dorcan Technical College students Craig Parsons, Ricky Brown and Ashley Meredith join in the Swindon Advertiser-backed Loud and Proud initiative Ref: 99719-41MARK Devlin is confident there will be no unpleasant punchline to accompany Town's second winding-up order of the year yet concedes the slump at the County Ground turnstiles is no laughing matter.

As revealed by the Swindon Advertiser on Saturday, the Inland Revenue has initiated proceedings against the club for an unspecified sum.

Devlin has stressed there is no panic, the funds to pay are being put in place and the bigger concern appears to be how to tempt back the stay-aways on match days.

The club's new deputy chairman was delighted with the efforts of those who embraced the Loud and Proud initiative against Port Vale on Saturday yet the fact that barely 4,500 fans attended the match did not escape Devlin's notice.

He said: "The fans were fantastic with the noise they made. They got behind the team and I don't think the players or Iffy can complain about that. It made for a great atmosphere.

"The numbers are a big issue. We can't get away from the fact that 4,500 people here means we're just not making enough money for the club to cover its costs.

"It means we keep having to go and find someone to give us money at some stage. Cash flow is seriously dented when there's only 4,500 people in here.

"I did say at the fans' forum that we would look at some of these ticket prices and come up with some initiatives and we've some meetings this week.

"Hopefully in the next two or three weeks we'll announce some initiatives price-wise and I hope then the fans will start coming back and show us that price really is the issue. Because if we reduce the prices and numbers really do nothing then that gives us even more of a headache."

As for the winding up order, Devlin said it was being addressed.

He said: "The monies are being put in place so we pay the outstanding balance by October 18. And as I understand it there's nothing to panic about. But it's not very nice when these things become public as it does tend to create a ripple of concern among supporters and creditors."

Numbers are also an issue for manager Iffy Onuora.

The Town boss said: "We have tried to address one area with a little bit more pace in the acquisition of Hameur Bouazza.

"Maybe now we can find someone who can deliver us that killer final ball.

"I've got a list and an idea of the type I want. There's probably three or four people I'll make inquiries about as the week goes on."

Not that Onuora is unconvinced by what he already has. "I've seen enough to say we can get out of this," he said. "We have to play with our minds as well as our hearts and at times we don't do that enough."