The club web-site has announced that Dumbarton FC has “parted company” with Alan Adamson as manager.

Well; that’s one way to put it.

I suspect ex-boss Jim Chapman (whom Adamson replaced and who is still at the club in charge of youth development) is laughing up his sleeve right now.

Assistant boss Jack Ross is temporarily taking over while the club solicits applications for the vacancy.

I suppose it was inevitable given the very poor start to the season after the euphoria at the end of the play-offs. The players are the same, though, so what improvement can be expected is moot.

Mind you Alan Adamson was possibly out of his depth at this level. He wasn’t too adept with tactical substitutions. The team rather lucked into that promotion but did get the results when they mattered.

The decision is still a bit harsh, though.

We must remember, however, the tailspin the club went into in our last disastrous foray into Div 1. The powers that be at the club clearly hope to avoid that happening again.

At least as regards first team responsibilities.

It’s not too much of a surprise given the abysmal performance of the team this season. The players looked completely at sea and clueless on Saturday (as at other games earlier) and it seemed that Chappie had “lost the dressing room” as that piece of football-speak has it.

I suppose the sideways move means the board couldn’t sack him outright as it would cost too much.

I hope this isn’t a case of be careful what you wish for. But then we were on course for relegation anyway.

I don’t know anything at all about Alan Adamson who’s taking temporary charge but he could hardly do much worse. Let’s hope he plays players in their correct positions and can impart some confidence to them.

SFL Div 2, Ochilview, 23/10/10

League goals for predictor:- 15.

Two must win games in succession both lost.

Now every game will be a must win until relegation is confirmed. (At this rate that will be sometime in January.)

This is the penance we must suffer for the good times.

Onebrow opined during the game that he’d always thought that the way we won promotion two seasons ago was too good to be true. And so it proves.

This was 4-0 going on a complete embarassment. And to the team merely one place above us in the division.

It was over as a contest as early as the third minute when we lost the sort of scruffy goal you concede when you are going to be relegated.

A routine ball into the box wasn’t hoofed away by Devlin as it should have been – Chissie would have got rid of it no bother – Grindlay flapped at it, knocking it onto the Stenny player, off whom it trundled into the net.

I don’t think Michael White would have fumbled that ball. He was in goal, as Onebrow pointed out, in the only two games where we’ve managed to get any points this season.

Grindlay doesn’t come for crosses – the defence is clearly unsettled; three of them had a go at him for staying on his line a few minutes after the goal, when we could easily have lost another – and his kicking from back passes is appalling.

Next up, the obligatory penalty against us at Ochilview. I thought Ben Gordon got there first, the ref didn’t. That all started when Andy Geggan had, I think Devlin, free in space on his right in a good position in their half but hit the ball too short, straight to a Stenny player. Promptly up the park, whistle.

Up steps Ross Clark. Remember him, Chappie?

Stenhousemuir could have gone home then. We still wouldn’t have scored.

The next one you could see coming from halfway through the move. The defence was posted missing from the crossball and Ross Clark (remember him, Chappie?) drilled it home. Grindlay stood still.

We played a bit better in the second half but Stenny had taken their foot off the gas.

We keep finding ever more bizarre ways of conceding goals. The fourth was a complete joke. Nugent had the ball covered. All he had to do was play it, back to Grindlay (OK, maybe not) or out the park, or pass to Ben Gordon, or even turn and go upfield. Instead he just stops running and a Stenny player breezes past him – the report on the club website says as if out of nowhere but he was clearly visible all the way – rounds Grindlay and pops it in.

The Stenny announcer gave the man of the match to Ross Clark. (Remember him, Chappie?) He did score twice, I suppose, but (a much slimmed down in appearance – Ed) Stevie Murray had a good game for them, too. Remember him, Chappie?

Stenny won’t have an easier three points all season.

Until they play us again of course.

It’s past time for Jim Chapman to consider his position. The players either aren’t playing for him or just aren’t good enough. He’s got rid of, or let go, the more robust characters. There was nobody on the field inspiring the team to get into the game. A complete lack of fight, competitiveness and effort. Where’s Chissie when you need him?

During the week Gordon Strachan was noble enough to fall on his sword. Sadly, I don’t expect Chappie to have it in him do the same.

Oh; and Grindlay must go.