It’s been hell for sad Boro
WHILE plenty of attention in the EFL naturally focuses on the teams fighting it out for promotion, spare a thought for those battling to avoid relegation.
All that pre-season optimism has long since bitten the dust and a slew of defeats have taken some clubs to the brink.
With the weight of the Football League on their shoulders, Stevenage have had a season to forget in League Two.
Dino Maamria, Mark Sampson and Graham Westley have all had stints in the hotseat and failed to garner results. Now it’s the turn of rookie boss Alex Revell to try to turn their fortunes around and he is positive he can pull off a miracle and keep Boro in the EFL (see p32-33).
If he can, he will deserve the Freedom of Stevenage. Three wins from their 35 league games this term, including yesterday’s loss at Crawley, is a sorry statistic.
Aside from the bodyblows on the pitch, there has also been controversy off it.
Sampson faced an FA charge for the alleged use of racist language and Maamria, sacked by Boro in September and now in charge at fellow League Two side Oldham, was one of those who gave evidence against him, alongside former coach Ali Uzunhasanoglu.
The charge was dismissed after the case was found not proven by an independent commission.
Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace said: “The not proven outcome was obvious to us after a very thorough investigation of the facts.”
Meanwhile, last Monday it was announced that Stevenage’s request to postpone their league match against Oldham in November because of international call-ups has been referred to an independent disciplinary commission by the EFL.
The postponement policy allows games to be called off if three players are selected for international duty, but it has been alleged only two players were eligible to be counted.
Wallace said: “We are genuinely stunned at the EFL’s decision. Our staff acted in good faith throughout and applied all the relevant rules available to us.”
With headaches on and off the field, you wouldn’t blame anyone at Stevenage for wishing this season to be over as soon as possible. Whether they will be lining up in the EFL or National League next term remains to be seen.