It’s good to be back – have you missed me?

Truthfully, a lot of non-league people have come up to me and said they have stopped buying the paper since I stopped appearing in it.

I’m not blowing my own trumpet, it’s just true.

People like controversy but not a lot of people have the courage to cause it.

Some people can’t stand me because of it but that’s life.

I think it goes to show that some managers around here need to believe in their convictions a bit more and say what they really feel.

If they think they are going to win a game then say so – stop sitting on the fence.

Some of the managers just want to be popular and liked by everyone. I’m not worried about that. If people write in to complain about me, fair enough – you can’t please everyone.

Things wind me up and I like to get it off my chest.

Look at John Terry for example. He says he wakes up every morning worrying and whining about missing a penalty.

There’s a credit crunch going on and people out there are losing their jobs every day and someone like John Terry – earning the money he does – says something like that. Pull yourself together man.

While I’m getting things off my chest I have to question the Hellenic League’s midweek kick-off devised by their secretary (and my old mate!) Brian King.

Clubs have worked hard all summer, ordered their new kit and the fans are all looking forward to that first Saturday of the season.

So what does he do? He makes it the first TUESDAY of the season! Even worse than that, it’s been staggered so only some start on the Tuesday and others play on Wednesday. It’s a joke.

I just think he’s made the Hellenic League look like a laughing stock.

It’s not fair to the players or the clubs and it’s just typical Brian King.

Other leagues are kicking off the Saturday before the Hellenic season starts, so why can’t they?

Looking ahead to the new season, Shrivenham will be in the bottom six. I’m not just saying that, I truly believe it.

I wish their new manager Mark Love all the best, I really do, but they’ve lost five or six big players and I really don’t think they can be replaced.

Fairford will also struggle. I swear their manager John Paget reads tables upside down – last year he kept saying they were having a good season and they were always near the bottom.

My old side Highworth will be top six in the Hellenic Premier and they may win a cup too.

Elsewhere, I think Wootton Bassett will be the team to watch.

I felt sorry for Paul Burke last season. They beat us over two games in the cup and they deserved to, but they massively underachieved in the league. The players let Burkey down badly and he didn’t deserve that.

I expect more from them this season – especially after signing Shaun Terry.

I had to laugh when I read Bassett manager Dave Turner say Shaun was the best trainer and hardest worker he’s ever seen.

Shaun must have an identical twin because when he was with me at Highworth he was the worst trainer and the laziest player we had!

But one thing I will say about Shaun is he is quality.

We wouldn’t have won the league without him and he can help Bassett go close this season.