NEVER have I seen Forest Green Rovers fans so numbed, angry and despairing. So many had gone to the ground on Saturday hoping to see a reaction to the second-half surrender at Lincoln City.

What we all saw was a wretched performance and a woeful result against bottom-of-the-table North Ferriby.

Manager Mark Cooper was exactly right when he said: “I and my staff must up our game, but so must the players.”

Everyone was below-par on Saturday and savage criticism is deserved, but at this stage of the season, with much to play for, is this the time to indulge in it?

The club needs to look at where we are now, prepare for the play-offs and move on.

I abhor the senseless barracking of Charlie Cooper. I have no problems with him as a player, he brings a zest to our midfield, never hides and despite being asked to change positions at least once during every game, gives his all in whatever role he is asked to play.

All hands are now needed on deck and for that reason some humble pie needs to be eaten over the Keanu Marsh-Brown situation.

KMB angered boss Cooper by taking to social media to declare his fitness after a recent injury.

Despite being at odds with the boss over this, now is the time to bring our maverick back into the team.

And then there's the tactics. A passing, possession game is all very well, but it has to be fast and incisive. Too often on Saturday our game slowed to almost walking pace as North Ferriby sat tight and waited.

We went left, right, then thought, and did the same again. Mind you when the cavalry came on in the second half we were just as bad.

Good luck to Ferriby and especial good luck to our players in the next two away matches. Do not let us down again.

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has lived up to my new name for it – the Empire of Cricketing Balderdash.

The plans for a T20 competition of eight franchised teams is sad and superficial, hitting at the whole fabric of the game. It will mean every other competition in the game being marginalised. Already this has happened to the County Championship, reduced as it is to 14 games.

This season Gloucestershire are playing half their championship programme (seven matches) in April and September.

No county cricket is played in August. Spin bowlers will become even more of a rarity.

The domestic T20 is to be moved to May and June to clear the way for the new monstrosity with the 50-over competition played alongside it.

The eight cities have not yet been chosen but Test match grounds are the obvious choices. Headingley, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Edgbaston, Lord’s, The Oval, Ageas Bowl will be bases and perhaps Sophia Gardens, who may let Bristol have a couple of games.

The first-class counties have been bribed by the offer of £1.3 million for each of the first five years. It will help us to grow the game said “Balderdash” chairman and chief executive Messrs Graves and Harrison. The pair have a lot to answer for.

If you really want to grow the game come to the Cotswold & District Cricket Association (CDCA) and talk to people like Alan Heath, David Dunn and Louise Findley-Wilson. Stop off at Fairford and meet David Taylor or Guy Bailey. End up at Cirencester and speak to Nick Price and his team.

These people love the game, serve it well and are not corrupted by the spurious prospect of mega-bucks. Make such a trip and you will see the true riches of the game.