You can try and hide an opposite view but it's always in plain sight

We see you

I know we’re in the midst of the play off’s and enough fiasco’s flying around, there will be a very positive piece coming out before the weekend but I didn’t feel this could pass just because of the reflection on our club.

We’re all pretty much aware of the decision made between the Premier League and the FA regarding the removal of replays from the world’s greatest cup competition.

I’m not going to cover that, but you can read my views on www.footballwriting.co.uk via the Friday Freebie.. Clubs left right and centre came out in support of each other in dismay at what was released on Thursday, not one backing the decision from the National League down to the very low levels.

We asked for Barnet FC to release a statement, more than one or two of us and when it did arrive, buried just before we played Kidderminster Harriers at lunchtime on Saturday I really wish I hadn’t asked.

If somehow you missed it coming out, you can find it in all it’s glory here.

Now, it starts off really well for two paragraphs and then well, descending into the kind of chaos the National League displayed on Sunday with the play-off announcements.

I am kind of shocked it found the light of day, that no one asked the Chairman if he read the room or even the post before it was allowed to join the internet for all to view.

It’s the only statement I’ve seen across four days to actually BACK the decision. It was self-centred, it was money orientated and it was really an insult to the clubs underneath the National League that rely on their moment in the spotlight.

It doesn’t come to them every season, nor every round and it’s not just about the cash either. Memories aren’t made by accident, speak to the Cray Valley or Horsham fans that took League One sides to replays this season.

The result for both is irrelevant, it’s what those supporters experienced heading away for a draw and then seeing these sides running out at Step 3 and Step 4 stadiums, ironically I was at Cray Valley’s Artic Stadium at the weekend, a brand new tea bar built from FA Cup replay money, that’s what it does.

Like I said I’m not going to dwell on it too much as we have much bigger operations to be involved in this week, just a case of we saw it, we noted it, we disagreed with it and that’s where we’ll leave it.